LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 16 - Is That Your Answer, CEO?
“Those arrogant PDs I know are offering the order, set, and even styling support for Yerin’s appearance?”
Kang Beom-joon let out a hollow laugh at the news Lee Hari conveyed over the phone.
As someone who once stood on music show stages himself, he knows well.
Baek Yerin’s appearance.
How much the PDs have let go for this one thing.
“Did you really expect even this?”
“?”
Kang Beom-joon threw a question at me as I was eating snacks without much thought.
I answered with a puzzled expression.
“No? I just said that because I didn’t want Yerin to suffer. Honestly, even kids know how tough music show filming is. I didn’t want her to experience that for three days in a row.”
“…Right. You were always that kind of guy.”
Kang Beom-joon sighed with a fed-up look.
In fact, appearing on music shows for three consecutive days might be a normal schedule for idols and singers.
But where in the world is anything normal?
There’s no such thing, just like how I came back to the past.
And for the current Baek Yerin, the concept of time itself will be lacking.
It would be right to give her time to spend with precious people, even if just a little.
Anyway, the reason Kang Beom-joon called me today was to discuss a certain issue.
“So which one do you think is better? The song Yerin will sing on the music show.”
On music shows, each team can only sing one song due to time constraints.
Usually, they sing the title track.
But we released three albums at once.
This meant there were no less than three title tracks.
Originally, the plan was to sing the three title tracks over three days, but because of me, that plan completely disappeared from the world.
But suddenly, a question arises.
“Is it okay not to hear the managers’ opinions?”
“We concluded that it’s right to fully respect your opinion as the composer and Yerin’s opinion as the singer for this part.”
…What’s this?
Lately, I feel like the managers are pushing me too much.
While I was thinking that, Baek Yerin and her manager Lee Hari arrived at the CEO’s office together.
“What were you talking about?”
Baek Yerin asked as she naturally sat down next to me.
“We were deciding which song you’ll sing on the music show. The CEO and managers want us to decide.”
“Hmm… Do you have a song in mind?”
“Rewind.”
I answered immediately.
The song that means the most to me.
All the other songs are good too, but personally, I wanted to see Baek Yerin sing
“I see…”
However, Baek Yerin showed a somewhat lukewarm reaction, smiling bitterly for some reason at my answer.
Feeling puzzled by this, I immediately asked back.
“Why? Do you want to sing a different song?”
“Ah, no! I wanted to sing Rewind too!”
“Well… that’s good then. Oh, and please get one extra ticket for the audience.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to watch Yerin’s performance?”
“I have the right to, don’t I? Or do you want to come watch together? Honestly, I think you’re curious too, CEO.”
“Oh… I admit it. I’ll try to get the tickets myself.”
“There’s no need for that. I thought this might happen, so I already got separate tickets from the PD.”
“Wow, as expected of Manager Lee.”
While they were having this lively conversation…
“……”
For some reason, Baek Yerin was less talkative than usual.
* * *
On the day of the music show.
Baek Yerin and Lee Hari visited the KBB broadcasting station from 7 AM on Friday for Music Save filming.
“Is that the rumored genius singer? I heard the competition for audience tickets was historically fierce today because of her.”
“Wow… I’m a total fan. But seeing her in person, she’s even prettier. Should I try talking to her later?”
Among the many celebrities gathered, Baek Yerin was literally the most popular.
Amidst such somewhat burdensome gazes, Baek Yerin’s first music show filming began.
In fact, even though it’s called filming, due to the nature of music shows, the waiting time is longer.
From dry rehearsals to camera rehearsals…
It’s a structure where you have to keep waiting until the actual broadcast after your team’s rehearsals are all finished.
Usually, if you have a packed schedule, you might handle other schedules during these waiting times in between, but this didn’t apply to Baek Yerin at all.
Baek Yerin, who was watching other teams’ rehearsals while sitting in the audience seats like that.
As she blankly watched this process, time passed quickly, and simultaneously, she began to feel more and more out of place.
Baek Yerin looked at her right hand.
…For some reason, it was trembling a lot.
It was then.
“Yerin.”
“Yes. Did you call me?”
At her manager Lee Hari’s call, Baek Yerin answered with her usual faint smile.
Not sensing any discomfort from this, Lee Hari continued.
“Aren’t you hungry? You didn’t eat lunch earlier either.”
“Ah, I’m fine. I think this is just right.”
Lee Hari smiled bitterly.
She speaks bravely, but sitting still and waiting for hours isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Moreover, it must be harder to adapt for rookies experiencing this for the first time.
“Ah, can I go out for some fresh air for a bit? It feels a bit stuffy sitting inside all the time.”
“Hmm… We need to change your outfit in 40 minutes, so you should have about 30 minutes of free time. But don’t go too far.”
Therefore, Lee Hari gladly let Baek Yerin go.
Baek Yerin wasn’t the type of child to cause problems in any way, and she seemed to be in good condition.
But Lee Hari instinctively realized that thought was wrong exactly 30 minutes later.
* * *
3 PM.
RT Entertainment’s CEO Kang Beom-joon left the company in disguise.
It was to watch Music Save with Ryu Won.
So he was going to drive to the middle school Ryu Won attends to pick him up at school dismissal time, but…
-C-CEO! It’s an emergency situation!
Lee Hari called urgently.
Kang Beom-joon instantly realized the situation was not good.
That’s because the voice of Lee Hari, a veteran manager, was full of bewilderment.
“Ms. Hari. Please calm down a bit and explain what’s going on.”
– CEO… Yerin has suddenly disappeared.
“Yerin suddenly disappeared?”
Lee Hari explained the situation from beginning to end.
Baek Yerin went out for a walk because she wanted some fresh air, and she hasn’t returned to the filming location since then.
– Her phone is ringing fine. But for some reason, she’s not answering my calls.
“I understand what you’re saying. I’ll try contacting her from my end.”
– Yes, please do. I’ll search around the broadcasting station as much as I can.
Click-
Lee Hari hung up immediately.
“Sigh… Was I missing something?”
With such self-reproaching words, Kang Beom-joon called Baek Yerin.
And shortly after, he heard this sound over the receiver:
-The call cannot be connected and will be transferred to voicemail after the beep. Call charges will apply. Beep-
As expected, Baek Yerin didn’t answer Kang Beom-joon’s call, just like with Lee Hari.
This looks like…
“It’s not an ordinary situation.”
The call connects fine but she’s not answering. In this situation, there are only two possibilities.
Either she’s not answering because she doesn’t know the call is coming due to reasons like silent mode, or she’s deliberately ignoring it because she doesn’t want to talk to the other person.
Kang Beom-joon sensed it.
In the current situation, the latter possibility is probably very high.
Also, regardless of the reason, finding Baek Yerin right now is the priority.
But how?
Kang Beom-joon wracked his brains about how to solve the current situation, and ironically, that contemplation ended quickly.
He blankly stared at his mobile phone.
If…
If, just if.
‘Would you have anticipated even this situation?’
As if possessed by something, Kang Beom-joon called the boy who came to mind right now.
It was a choice close to instinct, and in a way, it might have been the most rational choice.
– Hello?
Ryu Won.
His nonchalant voice was heard over the receiver.
Kang Beom-joon urgently asked Ryu Won.
“Ryu Won. Do you know what’s happening right now?”
– I wouldn’t know unless you give me a hint… but I can sense urgency in your voice. Did something happen to Yerin?
“…Yes. It seems she went out for some fresh air but hasn’t returned to the filming location yet. Moreover, my call connects fine but she’s not answering, and she’s not answering her manager’s calls either.”
– Then she probably won’t answer my call either.
“What…?”
– CEO. Please listen carefully to what I’m about to say and answer thoughtfully.
Suddenly, Ryu Won’s voice changed.
More precisely, the atmosphere turned serious.
– I’ve literally bet my life on one dream. That’s for Yerin to sing my songs. Furthermore, I want to see with my own eyes the sight of that child singing my songs on stage.
From Kang Beom-joon’s perspective, considering Ryu Won’s talent, it was quite a modest dream.
It means that it’s not something worth betting one’s life on, no matter how you think about it.
But hearing the following words, he could feel that the weight was on a different level.
– Then, if Yerin says she doesn’t want to stand on stage… doesn’t want to sing my songs, what happens to my dream?
Of course, it becomes a bubble.
His youth, effort, dream… he would completely fail to be rewarded for all of this.
It was clear that for Ryu Won, it would be an experience as sad and bitter as losing the meaning of life.
But Ryu Won knows.
– Nevertheless, I will respect and follow Yerin’s will somehow. It might sound foolish, but I’m the kind of person who can’t help but do that.
“……”
– Conversely, what about you, CEO?
Ryu Won knows better than anyone how much effort and care RT Entertainment is putting into Baek Yerin’s debut.
But if the fruits of that effort suddenly turn into bubbles…
If Baek Yerin declares that she wants to give up the path of a singer because she couldn’t overcome the pressure people are putting on her, what answer will you give?
Ryu Won was asking Kang Beom-joon like that.
And he only answers Ryu Won’s serious question like this:
“Of course, I’m human too, so I’d be angry first. This isn’t like kids’ play that you can start and quit anytime. But I absolutely won’t hold a grudge. It was ultimately my decision for Yerin to debut, and it’s ultimately my fault for not noticing the pressure she felt.”
– Is that your answer, CEO?
“Yes.”
After that, the conversation stopped for a moment.
Only, Ryu Won grinned after hearing Kang Beom-joon’s answer.
As if he had heard a very satisfactory answer.
Only then did Ryu Won convey his plan to Kang Beom-joon.
– CEO. Please join up with Manager Lee and buy as much time as possible. The Music Save production team must be quite flustered by the current situation too.
“Wh-What suddenly?”
– Yes. You’re good at that kind of thing, aren’t you? In exchange, I will definitely bring Yerin there.
“Y-You’ll bring Yerin? How?”
– That’s a trade secret. But, as I said earlier, I will respect Yerin’s will as much as possible. Please don’t resent her too much after hearing Yerin’s will, CEO.
“…Alright. I understand.”
Ryu Won hung up immediately after hearing Kang Beom-joon’s answer.
In fact, Kang Beom-joon had no suitable options.
From the start, is there any option more reliable than Ryu Won’s existence in the current situation?
After all…
‘Can you give up your own dream so easily?’
Kang Beom-joon knows.
He knows all too well.
That the boy named Ryu Won, whom he has been watching until now, is not someone who would give up his dream so easily.
With that small hope, Kang Beom-joon hurried towards KBB broadcasting station.