Chapter 169                                    
           									
“Oh, please come in, president . ”
Although it was late at night, Madam Jung GilLye greeted KangYoon warmly . 
When he entered with an awkward expression, Kim JiMin gave him a sitting cushion . 
‘This is a nice house . They don’t look uncomfortable at least . ’
KangYoon was relieved after looking around the house . 
When her album went well, Kim JiMin moved from the residence that KangYoon had gotten her when she was a trainee .  She wanted to lessen the burden on KangYoon and the company’s money . 
The classy looking curtains and the white wallpaper fit well with the cozy house and the overall atmosphere felt tidy . 
“Thank you . ”
Madam Jung GilLye brewed some tea . It was some steaming hot jujube tea . The sweet fragrance made KangYoon feel like he was being energized from the fatigue .
“Sir, how was it in Jeju?”
“It was fun .  Though, it was a pity to not have you there . ”
“Me too .  I really want to go next time . ”
Kim JiMin expressed her disappointment . 
Due to the characteristics of an entertainment company, it wasn’t easy to consider everyone’s schedule .  In the end, Kim JiMin had to take a hit for this one .  KangYoon was also aware of this and this was why he came to her residence as soon as he arrived . 
When KangYoon talked about the stories that happened at Jejudo, Kim JiMin also told him about the things that happened during the past couple of days . 
As KangYoon was busy with Eddios all this past while, the two conversed for quite a long time . 
“…So I went to VVIP . ”
But then, when Kim JiMin told him that she visited VVIP, KangYoon’s eyes colored with panic .
“Wait .  You went to such a place?”
“Yes .  I’m very sorry .  Nothing much happened though . ”
Visiting another company without permission was a sensitive topic .  And she followed an idol of VVIP, Hwang JooGyeom . 
However, KangYoon didn’t scold her much . 
‘What did Mr . JooMyeong do?’
The first thought that came into his mind was her manager . 
As it was a human doing the job, he was well aware that it was absurd to stay by Kim JiMin’s side 24/7 .  However, leaving her to her own devices when she was visiting another company? His actions definitely warranted some action on KangYoon’s side . 
‘I should ask him tomorrow . And VVIP? Isn’t that place famous for poaching newbies? He should have held her back . ’
KangYoon sighed in relief as this may have escalated into something much worse .  The reality was that many rising stars switched companies due to their popularity .  KangYoon was glad that he had a good eye for people . 
If a rookie becomes a so-called ‘star’, it is natural for that person to get a love-call from many places .  In this reality where 1 out of 100 may or may not make it big in this industry, There were many companies that focused on raising already-famous stars rather than raising new ones from scratch .  Many also thought that paying the penalty fee for breaching the contract was worth more than investing in a new person . 
VVIP Entertainment was infamous for such actions . 
“Call me next time when you want to visit another company, okay?”
                            
“Yes . ”
“I’m glad that nothing happened .  Although your slap to that guy tugs on my mind a li… Nah, that guy deserved it .  How dare he? A star should have such daringness .  I’m worried about strange rumors, but… I’ll take care of that .  Well, they were in the wrong this time, so they won’t be able to make a big deal out of this .  Being slapped by a lady is nothing to boast about . ”
Kim JiMin seemed embarrassed .  Actually, she did feel embarrassed when she thought about the actions she took back then .  However, she didn’t want to ignore it when someone talked bad about KangYoon who had raised her, a nobody, to such heights . 
The jujube tea was half-gone and the hot steam had died down as well . 
KangYoon put down his teacup and switched topics . 
“Have you heard about a program called ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’?”
Kim JiMin thought about it for a moment before nodding .
“Yes .  Isn’t that program aired Every Friday on KS TV? It’s the one where they reinterpret an old classic, right?”
“Yeah .  It’s a program where the singer gets evaluated by 555 people from ages 10 to 50 .  This time, you were called for it . ”
“Oh, that? I want to do it . ”
Kim JiMin was ambitious .  She felt some charm from the fact that an old classic would be reinterpreted into a modern version .  Although this program was an entertainment program on the surface, its core was a music program .  She felt enough charm to appear in it . 
As the president, it was nice to see someone so rearing to go . 
“Okay then .  I’ll give you the materials tomorrow, so see you at the company . ”
“Okay . ”
KangYoon finished the tea before leaving the house . 
The next day . 
As Kim JiMin was on her school holiday, she didn’t go to school and headed to the company .  When she entered the office, Lee HyunJi greeted her warmly . 
“Oh, JiMin .  It’s been a long time . ”
“Hello, director . ”
Kim JiMin flattered Lee HyunJi after seeing that she had tanned a little . Lee HyunJi said that she was sorry that Kim JiMin had to be left behind .
“After this program, your activity period will end, won’t it? The president will give you leave then . ”
“Really? Wait, I have school…”
Looking at the calendar, Kim JiMin’s expression darkened . Lee HyunJi couldn’t say anything about that as well . Ditch school and go on a holiday? Neither KangYoon nor her grandmother would allow it .
‘Kids have it hard . ’
Lee HyunJi felt the tragedy of high school students and shook her head . 
After they waited for a little, KangYoon came to work .  His expression looked a little flushed . 
“Just how did he learn his job…”
“What is it?”
When Lee HyunJi asked in confusion, KangYoon shook his head and spoke .
“I asked Mr .  JooMyeong for a reason and he told me that he decided that it was better to follow JiMin’s wishes because she looked so dejected .  Just how can a manager… In the end, I became angry at both him and manager DaeHyun, who was in charge of teaching him .  If a manager listens to every word the celebrity has to say, that’s a machine, not a manager .  I picked him because he had some experience… but it turns out like this .  I think he should be taught from the basics or something like that . ”
                            
“That’s unfortunate .  But we should be strong in this since we almost lost a person that we painstakingly raised .  What did Mr .  JooMyeong say to that?”
“He’s repenting .  He cried saying that he didn’t know things would become like this .  He says that this will never happen again .  He’s not someone with evil intent so I think it will be alright after he learns from scratch .  Since Mr .  JooMyeong has to go with Eddios to learn work again, I think I’ll have to take care of JiMin for now . ”
“We can’t just hire a new manager immediately either… that’s more work for us . ”
Lee HyunJi shook her head .  She cheered for KangYoon . 
Meanwhile, Kim JiMin was very excited . 
‘Yes!’
She always felt confident when KangYoon had her back .  That feeling of being able to achieve everything she wanted to was a little hard to describe . 
Soon, KangYoon explained to her about the Birth of the Masterpiece program and gave Kim JiMin some documents that he got from them .  It contained the general purpose of the program, the stage layout as well as an example . 
After having a detailed look at it, Kim JiMin spoke . 
“A song that was popular from 1985 to 1987? Uhm, I wasn’t even born back then . ”
As she was born in 1994, she shrugged her shoulders since every one of these songs was older than her . KangYoon also burst out laughing .
“Actually, you might stumble upon something good since there’s nothing you know about it .  Let’s choose a good one . ”
“Okay . ”
The two started heading towards the studio in order to select a song .  They were planning to listen to many of those songs and choose wisely . 
When they entered the studio, Park SoYoung could be seen studying with thick glasses on . 
“SoYoung . ”
“Oh, hello, president .  And you too, JiMin . ”
“Hello, unni . ”
Having come earlier in the morning, Park SoYoung was wrestling with her score without standing up from her seat even once .  KangYoon had a smile on his face .  He was proud of her efforts . 
Kim JiMin’s focus was on the score in her hands . 
“Unni, can I ask you what this song is?”
“Sorry, it’s still a secret for now .  I’ll tell you about it later . ”
“uu… such a pity . ”
Kim JiMin pouted a little before heading towards a shelf with CDs and vinyl records .  That place not only had Korean music records but music records from other countries as well .  These were materials that KangYoon had gathered in his free time . 
Looking at Kim JiMin who was looking through those songs, Park SoYoung asked . 
“President, is JiMin selecting a song?”
“Yeah .  Are you ready as well, SoYoung?”
“…This is really too much for me… . ”
Park SoYoung stuttered . Although she was being asked to rearrange the song that Kim JiMin chose to sing in ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’, she was feeling a lot of pressure . She was still in the stage of learning, but her work was now going to appear on TV…
“I’m going to work on it as well .  You’re not going to do everything by yourself, so you don’t need to feel so much pressure . ”
                            
“R, right?”
“Have some confidence, straighten your shoulders out . ”
KangYoon imitated straightening his shoulders . He was gesturing to Park SoYoung to do the same . Park SoYoung spoke powerlessly .
“…Yes . ”
“Your answer is too small . ”
“Yes .  Okay, but you know, president… . ”
However, KangYoon didn’t even listen to her and went to where Kim JiMin was . ”
“Uuugh, can I really do this?”
Watching Kim JiMin and KangYoon go through songs, Park SoYoung became nervous .
***
“We’re past the break-even point at least . ”
President Han YoungSook of GNB Entertainment sighed while looking at the reports regarding Nael’s activities . 
She picked Yoo NaYoon from the trainees and invested money in her, and even made her debut date around the same date .  However, Nael was being compared by the public with Eunha from World Entertainment and was dubbed the 2nd place . 
Although Nael’s appearance was much more pleasing, she was strangely unable to overtake Eunha on stage .  In the end, she had to switch routes to general entertainment programs, and thankfully, she was able to gain a footing there .  Using that as her basis, she was able to spread her name wide using various events and was barely able to overtake the breakeven point . 
President Han YoungSook put down the cooled coffee and stood up from her seat .  She took out a cigarette and lit it up .  White smoke filled the office . 
“Fuu . The activity period will be over after the Birth of the Masterpiece . That’s good . ”
On her desk was a file titled ‘Liaison request for KS TV Birth of the Masterpiece’ .  Her seal was already on those papers . 
After smoking the entire cigarette, president Han YoungSook called her secretary using an internal bell . 
“Call NaYoon over . ”
-Yes, ma’am . 
President Han YoungSook opened the window in order to ventilate the air for Yoo NaYoon .
Not long later, the internet was filled with Nael’s news of appearing in KS TV’s Birth of the Masterpiece .
***
After the summer holiday, the employees of World Entertainment became closer to each other . 
The entertainers became closer to each other, while the employees were the same .  Moreover, everyone created a connection to the superstar Min JinSeo this time, so their little sense of belonging to the company was erased . 
Moreover, everyone now knew that the company was trying its best for them . 
A new employee entered World Entertainment at that time . 
“Hello . I’m Yoo JungMin . I graduated this year from XX University . I’m 28 this year and…”
Morning conference with all the employees of World Entertainment . 
A man with an ordinary face wearing a suit greeted everyone .  He introduced himself nervously and turned around to see everyone . 
E, Eddios, Eunha, and White Moonl… whoa . . ’
Although he had an interest in entertainment companies, now that he saw them for real, they all looked like dolls to him .  Female celebrities with light make-up looked like different species to the women outside . 
After he finished introducing himself, KangYoon stepped up . 
“We have a new person in our office . Everyone, give him a round of applause . ”
Everyone clapped .  Yoo JungMin took a light bow . 
KangYoon spoke with a calm tone . 
“You can sit next to Miss HyeJin from now on .  Miss HyeJin, you should teach him about the work that is done around here . ”
“Yes, president . ”
“Don’t bully your new junior, okay?”
“Hahahaha . ”
Everyone laughed at KangYoon’s words . 
As this was one of the rare occasions where everyone gathered, KangYoon briefly talked about how things worked around here .  When he thanked everyone for doing their jobs splendidly, everyone applauded him . 
The last one to speak was Lee HyunJi . 
“Summer is nearing its end .  Soon, Eunha’s activity will be over .  Please take care of our youngest member, since she couldn’t even go on the trip .  I hope you can give her a present each . ”
“Yes~ . ”
Kim JiMin said that they didn’t need to but when Lee HyunAh hooked her arm around her shoulders and imitated counting money, her face changed .  She liked money after all .  Seeing that, everyone started laughing . 
The brief introduction / morning conference ended in a good mood and everyone scattered . 
When KangYoon was about to go to the rooftop, Lee HyunJi stopped him . 
“President, wait a moment .  Can I take a bit of your time?”
“Yes .  Is there something on your mind?”
Lee HyunJi followed KangYoon to the rooftop as though this topic wasn’t something to be said in the office . She even locked the rooftop door and spoke carefully after seeing that no one else was around .
“I think it’s about time . ”
“About time to what?”
When KangYoon asked, Lee HyunJi replied with a smile .
(T/N: This could be a great April fools chapter… LEE HYUN JI CONFESSING…?)
(E/N: We already did that)
“We need trainees . ”
“Ah, trainees .  So it’s that time already . ”
KangYoon clapped in realization . 
She was talking about the future of an entertainment company, its trainees . 
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