226 - Upki Girl

< Boy Groups Represented by UTB, Girl Groups by Upki Girl > "Oh? The office lights are all off." Seowon, the first to get out of the car, opens the office's back door connecting to the parking lot and tilts her head in puzzlement. She is followed by Yona. "Really?" "What's going on? Everyone couldn't have gone home already, right?" At this, Siba starts jumping around excitedly. "No way! We got first place, and there's no celebration party?" Hugging the first-place trophy like a gladiator, she charges into the dark office. "Director Yeom! Where are you, Director Yeom! I'm Eunbit, the sexy icon of Upki Girl, and it's disappointing to be treated like this after getting first place! Are you looking to not renew the contract?" "Bitbit, watch out!" Concerned that the clumsy Siba might trip in the dark, Hongi follows her with her cellphone flashlight on. Seowon also shouts with concern. "Hey! I don't care if you fall, but if you break the trophy, it's on you!" Something feels odd. The office lights being off at 8 pm is unprecedented. On a Saturday, at this hour, even individual trainees like Rani would come and go. Could something have happened? "Jangwoo, I'll gather the kids' things. You give Director Yeom a call." Just as she says this, a congratulations song echoes from inside the office where the kids had entered first. "Congratulations on being number one~ Congratulations on being number one~" This company's fixation on surprise pranks is unyielding. It was a surprise party organized by the employees. Hyun-dong, holding a cake with a candle in the shape of the number one, was surrounded by Director Yeom, all the staff, and trainers. "Everyone! This is a trophy, a trophy!" Eunbit held the trophy high once more and shouted, eliciting cheers from the staff. "Woahhh!" "Gatki Girl! Gatki Girl!" "Everyone, blow out the candle." “Eeeek!” After the five kids blew out the candles together, champagne with intense fizz was opened with a spirited pop, drenching the kids. ―Pop! ―Fizz! “Kyaaa!” "Seriously!" "Wow, it's cold!" "We can drink this, right? Slurp slurp, ahh! The champagne sweetness melts! Can we eat the cake too?" "Jangwoo, stop Hongi!" "Yes!" "Eeeek! Stop, stop! Aliya doesn’t like this, remember?" "Next up, it's our number one managers!" “Yes!” ―Pop! A bottle of champagne was also sprayed on me and Jangwoo, who had worked hard on-site. Hyun-dong smilingly updates us on the album's sales figures until today. "A total of 170,000 copies sold. With today's first place, it might surpass 200,000 by next week." "Wow..." It's a festival, a true celebration! It felt like it was also celebrating my "Purple Liberation," which gave me an incredibly nice feeling. But amidst the celebration and the disappearance of the purple aura from the kids, there was something I momentarily forgot... "We'll wear this tomorrow." As the stylist mentioned what we would wear tomorrow after the celebration ended, a certain issue that I had forgotten about resurfaced. The attire for tomorrow was exactly what Yona wore in the future scene where she kissed me. I decided to leave the scene of tomorrow’s Daejaegaeyo to Manager Kim Sang-in. Not long after, I received a call from an unknown number, assuming it was probably about a schedule inquiry. "Hello?" ―Yes, hello, Manager Kim Yunho. This is Kim Hoseon, whom you met before. Kim Hoseon? Who was that? "I'm sorry. I don't have this number saved. Where did we meet again?" ―We met at Hanam Starfield regarding Aliya's situation. Ah... The attendant of Osman who tried to take Riya to Brunei. "Ah, yes. Hello." ―Congratulations on being number one. "Yes, thank you." ―It sounds like you're at the office. May I meet you briefly? "Now?" ―Yes, I'm nearby, so I'll head to the café on the first floor of the office. Or you can choose a place. "What’s this about?" Though I knew very well what he wanted to talk about, I asked curtly out of spite. What else could we discuss besides Aliya's issue? He unabashedly mentioned it was about Aliya, and we agreed to meet at the café on the first floor in five minutes. "To spare you the trouble, I'll get straight to our point." "Yes, go ahead." "We’d like Manager Kim Yunho to persuade Aliya." "Persuade her about what?" "It seems like Aliya needs to accept her title." "I thought that was resolved. Didn’t you take back the hotel and assets because of it?" "Well... we intended to finalize it that way, but the situation back there has become more urgent than expected. Aliya's influence is needed. " “Then you should speak directly to Riya, not me. And why should I persuade her?” "Aliya seems to rely heavily on Manager Kim Yunho. We thought Aliya’s refusal might be because of you." "Riya isn’t going to Brunei because of me?" "From our observations, that seems likely. Aliya herself indicated something to that effect." "What did Riya say?" "She indirectly expressed having feelings beyond that of a manager and singer." Though I knew he was merely a messenger relaying Osman's and the Bruneian royal family's words, I couldn't help feeling irritated. "That perspective is rather one-sided. I agree that Riya does rely on me, but the main reason she decided to stay with the team isn't me—it's her relationship with the other members. Of course, there are multiple reasons, but if I had to choose the most crucial one, it's her bond with the members. Not because of me." "Well, that's possible. But speaking of the members, it seems not just Aliya but the others depend on you quite a lot too." "Isn't it natural for entertainers to rely on their managers? If dependency is the issue, the company and I rely more on the kids than they do on us. They've reached number one, so we should treat them like royalty." "That's fine if it's only for professional reasons, but..." The man trailed off unpleasantly and showed me a screen on his phone. It was a photo of me and the kids moving in and out of the dorm. There were images of both the old and current dorms. His intentions were clear. It's a silent threat suggesting, "Are you inappropriately involved with the kids? What if this gets out?" Sorry, but your assumptions are wrong. There's nothing inappropriate about my relationship with them. "What's this supposed to mean?" "From what I know, it's quite rare for girl groups to live with a male manager. But you've been staying with them for a long time. Fans might misunderstand and suspect something inappropriate between the managers and the singers." "Haha..." "Isn't there actually something going on?" "No, there isn't." "Are you sure?" "We simply don't have a female manager available, so I took on the responsibility. It's the secretary with the wrong perspective here." "I'm talking about how the public might view this." "So, you're suggesting you would incite the public?" "It's not incitement but a standard negotiation proposal to achieve our goals. I'd merely release the photos, and the fans and the public would make their own judgments." This guy was playing dirty. Essentially, he was threatening to spread rumors unless Riya returned to Brunei. Regardless of the truth, it would be an unfavorable game for us. They likely have the power and resources to instigate and manipulate. The biggest issue is that to some extent, the suspicion they are creating has a semblance of rational validity. Even if I've maintained an impenetrable defense, the kids’ feelings toward me could easily betray their fans. The fact that I've been living with them would make it strange if the public didn't view this with suspicion. "You have two choices, Manager Kim." Seizing upon my brief silence, he makes his offer. "Our first suggestion is to persuade Aliya to return to the Bruneian royal family. In this scenario, Manager Kim Yunho can serve as Aliya's private secretary and assist her moving forward. The royal family even mentioned that should you wish, entering a marital relationship with Aliya is acceptable." "Haha, excuse me." When I snorted at the absurdity, his tone, so far mechanical and official, slightly softened. It seemed this was his personal opinion rather than a directive. "I’ll cut through the complicated parts and quickly explain. The reason the Bruneian royal family is eager to bring Aliya back is to strengthen the next royal legacy. The current Sultan is considering the Crown Prince as his successor, but his younger brother is meddling politically to claim the throne. Thus, the Sultan is consolidating his network by appointing loyalists. They're in such urgent need of Aliya’s influence because she's still part of the royal bloodline. Once Aliya is married, it strengthens their lineage, and that’s why they’re offering this proposal to you. But since you refused, measures to bring her by force are being discussed." His face suddenly showed envy toward me, like a bank official serving a lottery winner. "A marriage with the royal family could bring you far more than you imagine. The same people who considered the hotel Aliya managed as trivial as a convenience store now see it differently. Moreover, the remaining Upki Girl members and the agency will receive investments from our foundation, so rest assured. They will receive comprehensive support, promoting them not just in Korea but globally. The boy groups will be represented by UTB, and the girl groups by Upki Girl." "Okay... But you mentioned two choices. What's the other option?" "The other is for both Upki Girl and Manager to fail together due to a scandalous and sacrilegious rumor. Even without that, there are many ways to make the public turn against entertainers. It's easy; I'm sure you know that." Wait a second. The photo of Yona kissing me... Could this person have taken and distributed that to the press? Considering the quality of the paparazzi shots he showed, he could certainly have done more. With determination, he could investigate the daily happenings inside the dorm and our communication records with the kids. If Riya's capable of that, so is he. But didn't Riya already decide to remain with the team, even at the cost of her entire fortune? Riya is the kind of person who won't do what she dislikes, even with a knife to her throat. Marrying Riya and becoming a son-in-law in Brunei feels like a ridiculous outcome. The idea of marriage is so absurd it doesn't even seem real. Regardless of the specifics, the crucial issue here is that I've become an obstacle to the future of the kids—a situation that is utterly frustrating. Thus, here's what I'll do. "So, you're convinced that Riya isn't going because of me?" "Yes, we're quite certain. That’s why the marriage proposition was put forth to the royal family." "Then I'll quit as Upki Girl's manager. If I step aside, isn't that enough?" "What...?” "You’re saying I'm the source of confusion for Riya. But if she decides to stay with the team even without me, then I’m not to blame, am I?" "I don’t understand why you would make such a choice." "I was planning to resign as Upki Girl's manager today anyway." "What?" "Let's see if what you claim holds true." "No... we don't..." "If necessary, I can vanish immediately without saying a word to Riya or the kids. Of course, I'll need to inform the company for a proper handover. So whether you persuade Aliya or not, that's your business. But if you spread rumors related to me, I won’t stand by quietly." I had already decided not to attend tomorrow’s broadcast to avoid Yona's kiss. Plus, the data and aura were urging me to officially distance myself from Upki Girl. "Let me give you some sincere advice, Secretary. Our Upki Girl members worked tirelessly to get here. And like the others, Riya has developed such a strong emotional bond with Upki Girl that her life would be affected without it." Apparently, my resignation as manager wasn't a part of his calculations. He waited for my hand to unfold, silently focusing on my words. "Think about it. A person who lived like royalty their entire life giving up all those rights and benefits without hesitation—what does that mean? I don't know how well you know Riya, but if I know her, she wouldn't do what she dislikes, even with a sword at her throat. She sees me more like a pet, so thinking she'd make such a decision just because of me is a fundamental misunderstanding. You said things are dire enough that you need even the slightest bit of Riya's influence, right?" "Yes." "Then stopping her from being in Upki Girl is the worst persuasion strategy. Convincing her to juggle both Upki Girl and her duties in Brunei is a better approach. Something like, 'Hey, we’ll fully support your work with Upki Girl, so help us out.'" "Hmm..." "The Riya I know would choose death over doing something against her will. As for marrying me and going to Brunei? Hahaha... Come on now..." At my dismissive laughter, the secretary, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me throughout our talk, finally averted his gaze, looking over my shoulder. He was staring at the café entrance. "What is this all about? Why would I marry Myeondangdam? And what is this pathetic secretary doing here?" < Boy Groups Represented by UTB, Girl Groups by Upki Girl > End