Chapter 41
The Kid Raised on One’s Back
The hallway was empty.
Ruha leaned her back against the cold wall and closed her eyes.
Her tightly shut eyelids trembled slightly.
“Fourth place—!”
The child’s angered shout echoed down the hallway, startling passing staff who turned around in surprise.
“…S-Sorry—”
Ruha bowed her head slightly, then let out a faint growl of frustration.
“…Eighteen!”
Why!? Everyone could see my performance was the coolest! Story, direction! Baek Seoyoon explained it perfectly, didn’t she!?
“Ha! These frustrating humans—!”
At just five years old(?), her anger at her own loss outweighed anyone else’s sorrow.
“Ha…”
Taking a deep breath, Ruha’s expression cooled.
The live judges accounted for 40% of the score—not a small number.
It was expected that Chrome and Starbolt, who already had strong fandoms, would rank high… but
‘Beat12Y in second place?’
Honestly, their performance didn’t seem like second-place material. Rumors aside…
‘Is there really something going on between Vista and PD Kang Yunseok…?’
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she reminded herself: 40% was the judges’ score, and if Han Jinseo and the other judges gave high marks, this result was entirely possible.
No rash judgments. Survival came first.
Fourth place. Not satisfying, but surviving was what mattered.
Yet, the reason she was so furious was…
‘Losing to Han Jinseo and Jung Jeyoon?’
Her pride wouldn’t allow it.
Her sharp, unusually mature gaze flickered.
‘RE:VIVAL… I will win no matter what…!’
Then it happened.
Gurgle—!
“…?”
Gurgle—!
Ruha’s face instantly turned pale.
“C-Could it be—!”
An urgent signal from her lower abdomen.
“I-I have to go—NOW!”
Pat-pat-pat!
Her small feet ran frantically down the hallway.
‘Bathroom, bathroom—!’
Splash—
The sound of water hitting the sink echoed.
The water was already halfway up, yet the faucet showed no sign of stopping.
Squeak—
“Director.”
A man carefully entered the restroom.
It was Lim Jonghyuk, manager of Beat12Y.
“Oh, you’re here?”
The man standing by the sink looked at himself in the mirror and answered leisurely.
“Your rankings weren’t bad today. Did you get along well with PD Kang?”
“Ah, well…”
As Lim Jonghyuk hesitated,
Bang!
The restroom door flung open.
“Ahhh, this is so urgent—!”
Ruha rushed in, clutching her stomach with both small hands, squirming helplessly.
“Ugh—!”
Rolling her eyes, she hurried into one of the stalls.
Thud!
“Grrrgh!”
Rumble—!
A thunderous sound soon echoed.
“….”
“Continue.”
At the cold voice, Lim Jonghyuk swallowed hard.
“Well… the problem is Jeyoon.”
“Why?”
The man in the mirror’s face stiffened.
“Today, she met PD Kang in person.”
“What? Why?”
“She doesn’t like being on the same stage as Lumis… and told us to deal with it quickly…”
“Hey!”
The man slammed the sink and turned.
“What did I tell you? Not to let her manipulate you?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Jonghyuk.”
The man strode over, standing in front of Lim Jonghyuk.
The scent of strong cologne hit his nose.
“Yes, Director.”
“If you can’t even handle something like this, why should I trust you with work?”
The man pressed his hand down on Lim Jonghyuk’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I’ll calm her down…”
“No, wait!”
He raised an index finger and gave a wry smile.
“Actually, this works out. I don’t even need to intervene.”
“…Yes?”
“PD Kang must be stressed too. She got a drink from him, and now a much younger guy knows all her weaknesses.”
The corners of his mouth twisted strangely.
“Jonghyuk.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Prepare Japan.”
Lim Jonghyuk’s eyes widened, filled with shock and anticipation.
“C-Could it be…?”
“Yes, kid.”
“C-Congratulations! Director!”
“Director? Don’t be silly.”
The man smiled, satisfied. Despite his words, his face was filled with the intoxication of victory.
“Any news from Clef?”
“No, it’s quiet for now.”
“He couldn’t have failed to recognize you after touching your face. So, pride… huh?”
The man turned back to the mirror.
His hair slicked with pomade, his sharp eyes, and the slow way he adjusted his hair—everything oozed confidence and self-love.
“Director, I have to ask… did Jeyoon really need to switch companies?”
“Why?”
“Lumis… I think they were fine. If they debuted then, it would have been enough…”
“Jonghyuk.”
The man smirked. His eyes in the mirror shone coldly.
“Why do you think I like that brat?”
“…I don’t know.”
“He’s already full of ambition at this age.”
“Ambition?”
“Watch how he was raised. In the end, it’s the domestic grind. But look at Vista—scale is different. If they win first place, you and I can take over the Japan branch. Good for you, good for me, good for the kids. Ah!”
He turned his head slightly.
“Foreign currency income—so I benefit too?”
A sharp smile spread across his lips.
“This, my boy, is what patriotism is.”
“…Yes.”
Unlike the man, Lim Jonghyuk’s expression darkened. Hesitantly, he spoke.
“But… Jeyoon hasn’t let go yet.”
“I told her to continue.”
“What? D-Director! This is dangerous. Her face is known now! If someone reports her…”
“Jonghyuk, one month. One month.”
“B-But…”
“This is your problem. Who did you inherit your cowardice from? Want to waste your life like your father? Make your family live like you?”
“….”
“Forget it. Just trust me. You’re a director too. How long will you keep cleaning up after the kids?”
The man patted Lim Jonghyuk’s shoulder with a kind smile. The gesture softened Lim’s shoulders.
Click—!
“Phew~ Almost wet my pants at this age.”
Ruha shuffled out, standing at the sink.
Standing on tiptoe, she washed her hands, then looked alternately at the two men.
The child’s round eyes were unusual.
“Go on, finish what you were saying. It’s interesting.”
“Oh? You little—what did you just say?”
The man’s narrow, snake-like eyes swept over Ruha.
“Go on, finish what you were saying—”
The small child lowered her brows, pursed her lips, and spoke slowly.
“….”
The man stared silently, then gave a hollow laugh. What could this little brat know?
But…
‘Why does this kid’s gaze feel so…?’
A tiny body, a cute face, but eyes full of deadly intent.
“Hey, don’t look down?”
The harsh tone was too strong for a five-year-old, but his instincts told him: this wasn’t an ordinary child; she needed to be controlled.
As the almost fifty-year-old man and the five-year-old stared each other down like assassins,
“Oh? Director!”
The snake-like eyes slowly softened.
“Oh~ PD Han!”
The face full of menace turned into a gentle smile.
“When did you get here? Taejin said you went to Japan.”
Han Jinseo waved energetically.
“Just got in today. Came to watch our Lumis kids’ performance, but it’s already over?”
‘Director? Taejin? Lumis?’
Ruha’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Oh? Ruha!”
Han Jinseo noticed her late and knelt to meet her eye level, smiling innocently.
“The manager was looking for you earlier.”
“…!”
Recalling what she had said moments ago, the man’s eyes trembled anxiously.
“PD Han… do you know her?”
“Oh, you didn’t know because the director was out? She’s Clef’s lucky kid now.”
Han Jinseo lightly patted Ruha’s head, smiling.
‘Eighteen… So that guy was a Clef director?’
Her eyelids twitched, small fists clenching automatically.
‘Gods, today I will cut these guys’ throats and go to hell!’
Like an assassin, quietly clutching the back hand fan,
“Ruha!”
At the perfect moment, manager Yoon Seojun entered the restroom.
“Oh? Director!”
Yoon Seojun bowed hurriedly to the man.
“Ah, Director Yoon!”
“How did you get here without contacting us…?”
“Just arrived today.”
“Ah… if you had called, we would have picked you up.”
“No, everyone’s busy.”
A polite smile spread across the man’s face. Glancing at Ruha, he seemed a little concerned about her earlier behavior.
‘Was I too sensitive?’
Ruha just stood there, eyes tightly shut, fists trembling.
Rrrrr—
“Hello? …What!?”
Lim Jonghyuk spoke urgently into the phone.
“PD, I should head there first.”
“Yes? Ah, okay! See you later, manager~”
Waving off Han Jinseo’s hand gestures, Lim Jonghyuk hurried out of the restroom.
“Hey, sir! Earlier—”
Ruha shouted, ready to chase after him, but
“Director!”
Yoon Seojun’s hand gripped Ruha’s shoulder tightly, desperation radiating from his fingertips.
“She’s Ruha, the kid who appeared on <Our Family’s Youngest>. Thanks to her, the Lumis response is good. PD Lee Gunwoo also joined Lumis’s side content.”
“Oh, really?”
The man looked briefly startled, then waved his hand like the kindest adult in the world.
“Ruha, hello? What a handsome little one.”
‘Oh boy.’
Ruha’s eyes glittered dangerously.
“You should greet him too. This is our company’s Director Im Jaehun.”
“Wh-what a tiger nose—eep!”
Quick-thinking Yoon Seojun covered Ruha’s mouth.
“R-Ruha… no…”
He whispered, pleadingly, voice full of desperation.
“Eep!”
Ruha struggled, but her small body was no match for the adult’s hand.
Rrrrr—
This time, Yoon Seojun’s phone rang.
“Hello? …Yes!?”
His pupils trembled anxiously. He ended the call and spoke urgently.
“Director, something urgent came up. I’ll head there first. The waiting room is over there…”
“No, it’s fine. We can handle it at the company later.”
Im Jaehun waved nonchalantly.
“But what happened?”
“Well… um…”
Yoon Seojun hesitated, moving only his lips. Unsure if he should speak.
“It’s… the kids got into a fight.”
“What?”
“Yes!?”
Im Jaehun and Han Jinseo shouted simultaneously.
“Lumis?”
Yoon Seojun nodded, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
“Ah, hurry and check it out!”
“Yes, PD! Director, see you later.”
“Alright. Go quickly.”
Yoon Seojun scooped Ruha up and dashed out.
A meaningful smile spread across Im Jaehun’s face.
“Clef’s been noisy lately, huh?”
His snake-like eyes slowly narrowed.
