Chapter 51
“Yes, our Eun…”
“Eunji!”
“Yes, yes.”
Im Jae-hoon’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. He lifted a glossy whiskey bottle and gestured toward the empty glass.
“Ah…”
Eunji’s slender fingers hesitated above the glass. Her face was already flushed, and her vision slightly blurred.
“Why? Can’t drink it?”
Im Jae-hoon’s expression darkened subtly. The wrinkles near his eyes deepened, increasing the pressure.
“Ah, no! Thank you!”
Ultimately, she lowered her head to reality and reflexively extended the glass.
Glug-glug-glug—
The whiskey filled the glass. Im Jae-hoon set the bottle down and nudged his own empty glass forward.
“Eunji, my glass is empty.”
“Oh, yes!”
She hurriedly lifted the bottle and refilled his glass. Her delicate hand trembled slightly. Im Jae-hoon flashed a sly smile and sharply grabbed Eunji’s wrist.
“Why is your hand shaking like that? Cold?”
The chill of his touch began to envelop her hand. Interlacing their fingers naturally, Im Jae-hoon called a staff member with his free hand.
“Hey!”
“Yes?”
“The place is a bit chilly, huh? Bring a blanket.”
“I’ll bring it right away.”
When the staff presented a soft cashmere blanket, Im Jae-hoon personally draped it over Eunji’s lap. His eyes gleamed like a snake’s.
“D-Director…?”
“Hahaha. Our Eunji still has a long way to go.”
“…”
Her eyes trembled anxiously. She looked to the bartender for help, but he avoided her gaze, focusing solely on wiping the glasses. Im Jae-hoon seemed to relish her despair, twisting the corner of his mouth as he downed the whiskey in one gulp.
Glug!
At the sound of the glass being set down, Eunji lifted her head sharply.
“So, what is our Eunji good at?”
“…Huh?”
“You said you can do anything well, right? You’re at that age now. It’s time to debut.”
Debut?
The two letters she had dreamed of for the past three years sharpened her gaze in an instant.
“Why? You don’t want to? If you wait any longer here, it’ll be tough, Eunji.”
“D-Director! I’ll do my best if you just give me a chance! My vocals have improved, my dancing has gotten better…”
Im Jae-hoon shook his head, interrupting her.
“Eunji, that’s the basic stuff.”
“…Huh?”
“What’s your unique charm?”
He shook the empty glass with a sly smile. Eunji quickly refilled it.
“Director, if you just give me the chance, I’ll do my absolute best!”
Her voice carried desperation.
“Opportunities don’t exist naturally. I have to create them for you.”
As Im Jae-hoon lifted his glass, Eunji raised hers hastily. Just before the glasses clinked—
“Hmm…”
He muttered softly and pulled his glass back. Then he quietly added,
“There’s a VIP company dinner this week. It’s nothing major, just some people from broadcasting and advertising.”
Eunji’s expression froze. She didn’t need to hear more to understand what he meant.
“Eunji, do you think opportunities like this come to just anyone?”
Im Jae-hoon leaned in.
“If you handle it well, you could even shoot a CF before your debut. You’d appear on broadcasts. First, you make your face known.”
Eunji bit her lip tightly.
“Think carefully. At your age, do you want to go back as a trainee and debut? There are prettier, younger girls already lining up.”
“…”
Harsh but realistic words left her unable to argue. Im Jae-hoon didn’t miss a beat.
“You know Beat12Y?”
“Bista? Senior from Beat12Y?”
“Yeah. Their leader is Jung Jeyoon, originally from our company. He said he couldn’t handle being an idol anymore, and I spotted him for Bista.”
Im Jae-hoon smiled meaningfully and lit a cigarette.
“He’s even the main vocalist. By the second half of this year, he’ll probably go overseas too.”
Eunji’s pupils began to wobble. Her heart wavered along with them. She knew this wasn’t right, but if she missed this moment like Im Jae-hoon said…
Click!
The lighter flame flickered. The cigarette tip glowed red.
“Don’t feel too pressured. I’ll handle everything for you.”
Exhaling lightly, Im Jae-hoon grinned slyly.
Meanwhile…
“Hehehe.”
Luha, clinging to Kang Ian’s back, laughed triumphantly. In her small hands was a newly purchased Piano Fairy Doremi harp fairy figure, tightly held. The harp on its back glimmered under the streetlight.
“I really…”
Kang Ian shook his head. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Late at night. The five-year-old insisted on buying it secondhand, and Kang Ian had to carry her. It was madness; he hadn’t realized it was this far away. Moreover, because of RE:VIVAL, a few recognized them, so he had to hastily cover his face with a mask.
“Do you like it that much?”
Yet, every time Luha’s small feet tapped and giggled behind him, he couldn’t help but feel proud.
“Wow, this is so hard to get these days! And they give two harps!”
Luha marveled at the figure, turning it this way and that.
“But how do kids these days even afford to collect things like this?”
“…Is that really your place to ask?”
“Well, I bought it with our CEO Yoon’s money. Hehe.”
Yes! Saved 30,000 won!
Luha hummed happily and kicked the air with her short legs.
“Kids these days…”
Suddenly, Luha clicked her tongue at something.
“…?”
“Don’t be like that.”
“Huh? Like what?”
“Look over there.”
She pointed. A luxurious-looking bar with neon lights. Two silhouettes emerged from the entrance. A man in his 50s held a young woman in her early 20s around the waist. She was so drunk she could barely stand.
“How late is it now? How much have they drunk?”
Not words you’d expect from a five-year-old… Kang Ian shook his head.
“Eh!?”
Startled, he stopped suddenly. Luha, carried on his back, bumped into him from inertia.
“What—what?! Drive properly!”
“Shh, shh!”
Kang Ian placed a finger over his lips and quickly hid in a corner.
“Who are they?”
“Director, I think?”
“Director?”
“Im Jae-hoon… director.”
“What? That tiger-nosed guy!?”
Luha squinted and observed carefully.
“Oh? It’s really him!”
“Gosh! That guy’s an executive? I’ll….”
Kang Ian tilted his head.
“Who’s that…?”
“Someone you know?”
“Ah…”
His eyebrows furrowed. The face was familiar.
“Where have I seen him…?”
“Ah!?”
He quickly covered his mouth.
“That’s our company’s trainee!?”
Later…
A sudden phone call spoiled the mood.
‘Too bad…’
Im Jae-hoon smacked his lips and lifted his glass. Eunji’s disheveled image still lingered in his mind.
‘Well, today isn’t the only day.’
His lips curved slyly.
“Director!”
Han Jin-seo entered the bar, waving as he approached.
“Oh? Two glasses?”
His gaze fell on the lipstick-marked glass.
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Im Jae-hoon casually moved the glass aside.
“What’s up? Why all the sudden calls?”
“I had free time and wanted to see you.”
“Hahaha! I love this! Sit down!”
Im Jae-hoon’s characteristic sly grin appeared as he filled Jin-seo’s glass.
Glug-glug-glug—
Watching it fill, Jin-seo asked quietly,
“You recommended me for RE:VIVAL, right?”
Im Jae-hoon paused.
“Producer Kang Yoon-seok told me.”
He slowly turned his gaze.
“Hahaha. That already reached Producer Han’s ears?”
“Yes, it did.”
Contrasting his cold voice, Jin-seo’s lips curved in a smile.
“You still can’t catch up to Jin Do-hyun’s level…”
Jin-seo muttered.
“Huh?”
“No, nothing.”
He smiled brightly.
“So, what do you want from me?”
A direct question.
“Wow~ Producer Han, I like your straightforward personality!”
Im Jae-hoon took out a cigarette with a satisfied expression.
“Yeah, well.”
Click!
The lighter flared.
“No need to hide things from family.”
“Family?”
Jin-seo raised an eyebrow.
“I’m moving to Bista this time.”
“Huh?”
“Producer Han, want to come to Japan with me?”
“Japan?”
“I’ll be managing Bista’s Japanese branch.”
“…!”
What nonsense is this? Bista? Japan? Completely unexpected.
“Hahaha! But I hope Producer Han won’t be too awkward around me. We’ve known each other more than a day or two.”
Im Jae-hoon licked his lips.
“So here’s the thing…”
He exhaled smoke toward Jin-seo.
“I want you to help me a bit.”
“Me? What power do I have?”
“I want Beat12Y to win.”
Jin-seo’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Don’t worry. It’s all arranged with Kang Yoon-seok. But… that guy’s work handling is frustrating.”
Im Jae-hoon tapped the ash onto the floor.
“It’d be great if Producer Han could help.”
“Did you tell Tae-jin hyung?”
“No need, right?”
Thud-
He flicked the cigarette onto the floor, smiling slyly.
‘Ah… I get it now.’
The puzzle pieces fit. He likely demanded the Bista Japan branch on the condition of winning the program. That’s why he didn’t like Lumis surviving. Everything was a setup.
‘It was real…’
“Everyone keeps talking about Jin Do-hyun…”
“…!”
The name made Jin-seo’s chest pound. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t close the gap. Just when he thought he caught up, the name drifted away again.
“I don’t think so. Producer Han, let’s show them who’s real this time!”
Im Jae-hoon leaned closer.
“You know? The Japanese market is on a different scale than Korea. If you succeed there…”
Overseas expansion, global production, top Asian producer… A chance to surpass everything. He could achieve what Jin Do-hyun hasn’t yet.
‘Could I surpass Jin Do-hyun…?’
Jin-seo’s eyes wavered.
“What do you think?”
Im Jae-hoon lifted his glass with a sly smile.
“….”
Jin-seo’s hand trembled slightly.
‘Is this right…?’
But the answer was already clear.
‘Will I live forever under the shadow of “Jin Do-hyun,” or…?’
After a brief hesitation, Jin-seo quietly raised his glass.
“Director, please take care of me.”
Clink!
The two glasses collided in the air.
