Chapter 35
Aaron Husk. He was the biggest name among the attendees at this event. A person boasting immense influence—just a word from him could make even a joke cryptocurrency skyrocket in value.
Was this another connection created by Onion, like during President Kim Seok-gu’s time? But judging by Husk’s expression, he didn’t seem particularly pleased.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” I said.
“Pleasure,” Husk replied, though his tone conveyed nothing of the sort. Then he sat down beside Eva, and she greeted him as well.
Other attendees kept glancing at us. It was only natural—Husk had suddenly come over in the middle of a conversation.
Husk was known for his eccentricity, but this action was completely unpredictable.
“From the front, you two looked so happy talking that I shamelessly decided to intrude. What were you discussing?”
“We were talking about the Nova Girls. Cute and lovely girls from Korea,” Eva replied.
“And this gentleman…?”
“He’s their manager,” Eva said.
“I see,” Husk said with an awkward smile, looking at me.
“You’re a young and handsome fellow. So you’re the manager…”
I had a strange feeling. There was a peculiar smell coming from Onion, like something burning. If I didn’t act quickly, it felt like trouble would arise.
At that moment, words appeared on my Onion bracelet:
–PR
PR? I’m supposed to do promotion now? Straight up promote the Nova Girls to someone like Aaron Husk, who looked so displeased? He’s a global CEO, and I’m just a manager. Wouldn’t I look like a street vendor in his eyes?
But Master Yang’s teaching was absolute. It would inevitably lead to the right outcome.
Who cares if I look like a street vendor? While the girls are giving their all, am I supposed to worry about my image? If I get criticized, so be it. If criticism comes, I’ll take it head-on…
Thinking that way, the burning smell seemed to fade.
“Yes, haha, shamelessly promoting here. Our friends worked hard to prepare their performance, and I hope more people take interest. Would you like to listen?”
“Hmm… But why are you doing this, Manager? Are you also handling agency work?”
“Oh, no.”
Manager responsibilities differ in the U.S. and Korea. In the U.S., celebrities mostly work alone. Agents relay work, while managers handle simple administrative duties. From Husk’s perspective, I’d probably appear overzealous, pushing myself everywhere.
I explained the difference. Strangely, the more I explained, the less of the burning smell remained.
“Oh, so Korean managers’ careers hinge on their artists’ success. I see,” he said.
I kept my gaze fixed on Husk’s philtrum, as looking elsewhere triggered the unpleasant smell.
“Exactly. I happened to meet this lady while looking for someone who might be interested in K-pop.”
“Because I looked quite bored. I was just tossing around some snacks,” Eva added.
“Is that so? But you know, I like K-pop very much too. Around lunchtime, my office café always plays VTS songs.”
“Oh really? May I give you my business card then?”
“Haha… well…”
Husk laughed, taking the card—not forced this time. The burning smell had completely vanished.
Seizing the opportunity, I showed Husk the photos I had shown Eva earlier and briefly introduced the Nova Girls’ background. Husk’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Oh, I’ve seen this on YouTube Shorts. So this is the Nova Girls. An idol group suddenly gaining fame thanks to a manager’s accidental effort… And that manager is you, Yoo Hyun-jae.”
Immediately, a sweet aroma—like the condensed honey scent I had first noticed from Eva—filled the air.
“Honestly, at first I thought you were a brute. I assumed you were making this girl’s life difficult. If that were the case, I would have stepped in to play hero… But as you know, I don’t like attention. Turns out, not at all. Yoo Hyun-jae, your mind was entirely on sales.”
“So… your interest in K-pop wasn’t genuine?” I asked.
Husk waved his hand.
“I am interested! Of course! Isn’t that why I came here? That’s no lie. Let’s watch together. Wasn’t it Greni’s turn next?”
He calmly picked up some snacks.
Gradually, people began approaching us.
“Husk, you should finish discussing lithium battery prospects. Why are you here snacking?”
“Something more important.”
“And that is?”
“The Nova Girls,” Husk said nonchalantly.
“A very adorable Asian girl group. Greni’s next, and coincidentally I met their manager. We can talk about lithium batteries anytime, but opportunities to discuss these girls directly with their manager are rare.”
“Last time you were obsessed with 2D animation, and now a girl group?”
“Let’s see for yourself. You’ll surely be impressed.”
He returned to his seat, and the name “Nova Girls” began circulating around.
Everything went well in the end, but I couldn’t understand Husk’s behavior. He thought I was a brute? Did Husk have a strong sense of justice? Sitting beside me, pretending to be a Nova Girls fan—was that just his eccentricity?
Eva, the model, put on her earphones and listened to Nova Girls’ English-translated song, Even if not a single star lights up the sky tonight.
Eva murmured, “Oh… this is much better than I expected…”
“Nova Girls… UN really messed up,” Tina Greni thought, glancing at the program leaflet.
Tina Greni, 32, had devoted her entire life to environmental activism since adolescence. Who else worried so much about global happiness and the future? Most people were selfish and oblivious.
Only her NGO colleagues and some social media followers seemed rational.
Tina assumed it was natural for the UN to invite her to the World Happiness Day event. But others? Particularly the Nova Girls, baffled her.
What relevance do they have to global happiness? Aren’t they only concerned with fame? They probably don’t care how their habits affect the world.
Children completely unaware of the world’s dangers!
Aaron Husk’s behavior was similarly vexing. Electric cars for the planet, ventures into space? Then his focus should be on Greni, protesting fossil fuels daily.
Yet he was discussing a girl group with an Asian man. Around them, prominent companies gathered, chatting about Nova Girls.
Tina Greni, fuming, went up to the podium.
“Many of you have come here. I assumed people concerned with the world’s future and human happiness would gather, but it’s all empty words. I’m disappointed.”
She began aggressively. Once prominent in environmental circles, her harsh words would make people pay attention.
“The UN has betrayed my trust. I, Tina Greni, who devoted my life to the future environment, am sidelined, while people show more interest in Asian girls focused on personal adornment. Have you considered the environmental impact of the cosmetics they use? If Aaron Husk truly cares about reducing fossil fuels, why not invest in me? I aim to confront hypocrisy here.”
The hall grew solemn. Tina felt she had made an impact.
She passionately detailed her efforts and her NGO’s work.
“What did she just say?”
My heart raced. I was furious.
Tina Greni? Why so irritable? Criticizing other attendees before her speech? Did she think environmental activism gave her the right to berate everyone else?
“Asian girls focused on personal adornment?” How could she say that? Who is she to judge Nova Girls? Does she even know their efforts?
The Nova Girls must have been listening from backstage. How would that make them feel? They were already nervous.
I was furious—and felt helpless. Even with the lucky Super Onion, I couldn’t change this situation.
‘Think… what can I do now…?’
Then…
“That’s too much,” Eva Brooks whispered.
“The Nova Girls are cute and admirable. They did nothing wrong.”
Aaron Husk turned to her.
“Already a fan of Nova Girls, huh?”
“Aren’t you? You know their story. Doesn’t it upset you?”
“Oh… it does. I have sufficient empathy,” he said.
Tina left the podium. Applause was sparse. Few were pleased. Everyone thought she was just talking empty words.
Next up was Nova Girls. I prayed silently under the table.
“Please, Master Yang, don’t let them lose confidence.”
I hoped they wouldn’t appear timid on stage.
Clack, clack—the sound of footsteps. Then…
Whistling—
From beside me. Husk smiled and clapped loudly.
“These young girls are on stage. They deserve support, don’t they, Eva?”
Only Husk could do that. His influence and eccentricity made it acceptable. Soon, others followed his lead, clapping too.
“The speaker receives the strongest applause. Right, Manager?”
“…Thank you for noticing.”
Husk’s intentions weren’t my concern.
Receiving such applause—or perhaps due to professionalism—the girls’ expressions improved. They confidently stepped forward. Dabin grabbed the microphone.
“Thank you for inviting us. Though embarrassed, we haven’t lived solely for global environmental concerns. Calling us children obsessed with adornment isn’t entirely wrong. Thank you to the previous speaker for broadening our perspective.”
Dabin’s expression was composed.
“Our personal struggles were so pressing that our concern never reached the world. We feared dying unloved. Living like that, eventually even claiming ‘I want to be loved’ becomes frightening. We are here to comfort hearts like ours,” she said.
Dabin’s English script, refined countless times with me, resonated through the hall.
The applause afterward wasn’t solely due to Husk’s influence.
After Nova Girls’ performance, during the Q&A session:
“Oh, thank you, Manager. Meeting you before seeing this stage was a blessing. I was deeply moved,” Eva said, clasping her hands.
“To criticize these girls… it’s unbelievable. If I had the chance, I’d protest! Even if trivial, I’ll post support for Nova Girls on my SNS.”
“Thank you.”
Husk remained silent, observing our conversation, then suddenly acted.
He stood and approached Tina.
“Tina Greni, your speech was impressive.”
Journalists and attendees, including me, turned to him.
“Which part?” Tina asked.
“The part about people speaking empty words here,” Husk said.
“Oh.”
“I saw you eating the salad you brought for lunch. Still insisting on vegan meals?”
“Of course,” Tina said enthusiastically.
“I have clear beliefs. Do you know how many trees are cut down or how much carbon is emitted in meat production? Eating vegan reduces carbon emissions by 75%.”
Husk nodded.
“Haha, admirable… Normally I’d just let it pass.”
He glanced between Eva and me.
“Tina, I saw you sending someone to buy that salad. The courier rode a flashy motorcycle, and the salad was in plastic packaging. Where’s the carbon reduction there?”
“That… I didn’t think that far…”
“You didn’t think? Why not? You’ve dedicated your life to the environment. Are you really helping it, or just cultivating an environmentalist image?”
“…Stop insulting me!”
“And what of your insult? You publicly criticized Nova Girls. From my view, they are far more genuine. If I invested, it would be in them, not you. Agreed?”
Husk looked to nearby entrepreneurs—they seemed to agree.
Tina’s face flushed red, and she left.
“Now, shall we talk about something fun? Our lovely Asian girls,” Husk said to me.
“…Why are you doing all this?” I asked, confused. Husk was controversial. Last time, he caused a stir with the president. Now, he challenged an environmentalist. Risky behavior at a UN event—why?
Husk laughed.
“It’s all because of you, Yoo Hyun-jae.”
“…?”
A humorous expression mixed with serious intent.
“You made me a fighting dog. I felt you’d be disappointed if I didn’t act. Did you hear something somewhere?”
I had provoked Husk? Disappointed? By whom?
I only understood this after returning to Korea.
[Space Delta CEO Aaron Husk announces remarriage plan]
[Aaron Husk to wed ex-model Eva Brooks at St. John’s Hotel]
[Aaron Husk: “Half my day is running my company, the other half monitoring Eva.”]
[Fiancée Eva Brooks: “After World Happiness Day, Nova Girls are my favorite.”]
[Even Aaron fell for Nova Girls—worldwide reaction?]
