I pondered.
We do need to recruit more members anyway.
The minimum number of members for an idol group is usually four.
However, Ebony currently had only three members left after the villainess Mina had dropped out.
Realistically, promoting a group with only three members was a steep uphill battle.
The problem is that recruiting a new member won't be easy.
It was all due to Ebony's reputation.
Even though their names had been cleared, the public still viewed Ebony as the group mired in a bullying controversy—one that was bound to flop even if they made a comeback.
While there might be trainees desperate enough for a debut to join a group like Ebony, any decent prospect would reject the offer outright.
[Searching for a new member who fits Ebony!]
[Appraising the compatibility between the aspiring idol (Hye-na Lee) and Ebony!]
[Hye-na Lee]
Compatibility with Ebony: S+
Jackpot! She's a perfect match made in heaven!
With stats like that, she was practically Ebony's soulmate.
It's past working hours, though.
Reminding myself that I could just utilize the flexible hours and roll into the office late tomorrow, I spoke.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes?"
The eccentric fourth-generation conglomerate heiress and aspiring idol, Hye-na Lee, turned to look at me.
Up close, she was even prettier.
Despite a complete stranger striking up a conversation, she wore a warm, friendly smile.
But because I grew up in an orphanage and dealt with all kinds of people, my instincts immediately kicked in.
She is no pushover!
Her gentle and friendly demeanor was just a facade. Soft on the outside, tough on the inside—I could sense an unyielding strength beneath the surface.
Is this why her compatibility with Ebony is so high?
The current members of Ebony were still very young—not just in age, but in emotional maturity as well.
As a result, while they were cute, they were also young and easily shaken.
If a strong figure like her became the oldest sister to anchor them, Ebony would become a much more solid group.
"Can I help you?"
"Ah, sorry about that. I'm not a suspicious person. Here's my card."
I handed her my business card, and Hye-na's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"Chief Manager of Team 5 at Star Entertainment?"
"Yes. Excuse me for the sudden approach, but I'd like to make a casting offer. By any chance, are you interested in becoming an idol?"
"An idol?"
"Yes."
Hye-na showed a hint of interest.
"What a coincidence. I actually am interested in idols. There are some empty seats over there, so why don't we sit down and chat for a moment?"
* * *
Things seemed to be going smoothly, until they weren't.
As expected, she is no pushover!
Despite the sudden situation, Hye-na did not seem flustered at all. Sipping her complimentary coffee at her leisure, she maintained a perfectly composed, relaxed attitude.
It must be because she's a fourth-generation conglomerate heiress.
I felt myself shrinking back for a split second, but quickly snapped out of it.
I'm rich too!
Granted, Hye-na's family business, Mirae Group, was a top-tier conglomerate completely beyond my level, but I was a genuinely wealthy man now too.
There was absolutely no reason to feel intimidated.
"I'm Hye-na Lee. May I ask why you want to cast me?"
After a moment of thought, I decided to be completely honest. For someone like her, honesty works much better than empty flattery.
"There's a group under my care, and I made the offer because I think you'd fit perfectly with them. I believe you'd create the best synergy together."
Hye-na looked intrigued.
"This isn't the first time I've received a street casting offer, but you're the first person to put it that way. If I didn't match with that group, would you not have made the offer?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"…That stings my pride a bit. Do you think I lack potential as an idol?"
"Not at all. Of course, we would need to evaluate your singing and dancing, but I see the potential."
Her base potential was an A, which meant her raw talent was undeniable.
"Then why?"
"If it weren't for Ebony, it would be better for you to debut somewhere better than Star Entertainment."
"!!!"
"To be completely honest? Star Entertainment is a terrible company."
"I know. It's notorious for being exploitative, isn't it?"
"You can safely assume it is even worse than the rumors."
"…Is it really okay for you to say that while trying to recruit me?"
"It's the truth. It's better to be upfront from the start than to try and deceive you."
Hye-na let out a soft laugh.
"You're an interesting person. So, you're only offering this because you think I'm a perfect match for Ebony?"
"There is one more reason."
"What is it?"
"Let me ask you frankly. You're not in a position to easily debut as an idol anyway, are you? Because of your family situation, or something similar."
"!!!"
Hye-na's face stiffened.
"…How did you know?"
My skill had already laid it out for me.
[Hye-na Lee]
[Aspires to be an idol, but faces opposition from her family.]
"If it weren't for something like that, there's no way someone of your caliber wouldn't have debuted by now."
"…That's true. But what does that have to do with me joining Ebony?"
"Do you know what kind of group Ebony is?"
"…I know them as a B-tier group."
"To be precise, they're C-tier or below. On top of that, they completely flopped due to a bullying controversy. They're a group that no sane trainee would even glance at."
At my blunt answer, Hye-na gaped in disbelief.
I looked straight at her and continued.
"On the flip side, because it's such a steep hill to climb, actually succeeding would make it easier to convince your family. A spirit of challenge—that's the very ethos the current chairman of Mirae Group emphasizes most, isn't it?"
"!!!"
Hye-na looked utterly stunned.
"You knew who I was."
"Yes, I happened to read an article about you a while back."
When I first ran into her by chance, I'd looked her up out of curiosity. There was a small article about her being accepted into both Seoul National University and Oxford at the same time.
"…I hear what you're saying, but to be honest, I think it will be hard for me to accept."
It was a perfectly natural reaction.
There was no reason for her to accept an offer from a failed, C-tier group over a normal one.
But.
Hmm… should I say this?
After some consideration, I spoke up.
"Are you perhaps running away?"
"!!!"
"I understand your family opposes it. But if you were to truly give it everything you have, would they really stand in your way forever?"
Hye-na's polite facade shattered completely.
And I had a very good reason for pressing on.
[Wants to be an idol, but cannot muster the courage out of fear.]
"Please think over what I've said and contact me later. If you find the resolve to take on the challenge, I will help you. Oh, and I'd appreciate it if you avoided contacting me on weekends or after working hours."
* * *
He didn't say anything wrong…
Hye-na let out a heavy sigh, recalling her conversation with Chanwoo Lim from a few days ago.
Honestly, she had received countless casting offers before. But she had never met anyone like Chanwoo Lim.
If I truly want to be an idol, I should challenge myself regardless of my family's opposition. Then, my family would eventually acknowledge me.
Hye-na ultimately had to admit it. Chanwoo was right.
There was something else peculiar about him, too.
He didn't have an ulterior motive.
The only reason Chanwoo wanted to cast her was strictly because of Ebony.
"If it weren't for Ebony, it would be better for you to debut somewhere better than Star Entertainment."
Framed nicely, he was looking out for her. But looking deeper, it meant he didn't care about Hye-na herself at all.
If it weren't for Ebony, he wouldn't even have spoken to her.
To be frank, it stung her pride a little.
…Aren't they just some unknown, flopped idol group?
Ebony was just one of the countless, run-of-the-mill girl groups saturating the market—and a miserable failure at that.
Why does he care so deeply about a group like that? Isn't Star Entertainment a notorious sweatshop that ruthlessly discards you the moment you fail?
Hye-na found herself growing increasingly curious about Chanwoo.
His words are incredibly blunt, but he didn't leave a bad impression.
She absentmindedly typed the name Chanwoo Lim into a search bar, only to be shocked.
What the? Why are there so many articles?
The one that stood out the most was an article about Ina Kim.
[Ina Kim Names Manager Chanwoo Lim as Her Spiritual Mentor!]
[Ina Kim Claims Her Ability to Survive the Entertainment Industry Was Entirely Thanks to Manager Chanwoo Lim's Support!]
Ina Kim? Is it really that Ina Kim?
One of South Korea's top actresses was singing his praises!
And that was just the tip of the iceberg.
[Actress Hyunah Lim, the New Dark Horse of the Soon-to-Be-Released Blockbuster Movie 'Crime Society'! Raising Expectations with Outstanding Acting Skills!]
[Actress Hyunah Lim Names Chief Manager Chanwoo Lim of Star Entertainment as the Person She Is Most Grateful To! Says She Was Able to Start a New Life as an Actress Thanks to Chief Manager Chanwoo Lim!]
Is it normal to credit a manager like this in a major interview…?
It wasn't unusual to mention people one was grateful to during interviews.
However, those spots were reserved for directors, senior actors, or family members. Naming a manager was virtually unheard of.
And the list didn't stop there.
[Trot Rising Star Sena Lee! Names Chief Manager Chanwoo Lim of Star Entertainment as the Person She Is Most Grateful To During Her Acceptance Speech for First Place on a Music Show!]
Sena Lee was the hottest figure in the music industry recently—a mega-hit rookie who had broken through the brutally difficult trot music market.
This time, it wasn't just a summarized article. There was a broadcast video clip.
Watching it revealed even more details.
-What kind of help did Chief Manager Chanwoo Lim give you?
The host asked, clearly fascinated.
-Everything.
Her answer was nothing short of spectacular.
-He snapped me out of my delusions and guided me toward the right musical path. He also recognized my true aptitude and pushed me toward trot music when everyone else opposed it. It's all thanks to Chief Manager Chanwoo Lim that <Love's Shuttle Bus> turned out to be such a wonderful song.
A spiritual mentor, the producer who made Sena Lee a star. And the hidden mastermind behind the mega-hit song, <Love's Shuttle Bus>.
…Does that even make sense?! That's not something a mere manager would do?!
It was unbelievable.
But that wasn't all.
Just in case, she searched Chanwoo Lim on U-Tube, and an unexpected video popped up.
[Meeting the Ten-Million-Viewer Director, Director Hansung Lee!]
It was a feature interview with the director of Crime Society, the upcoming movie starring Ina Kim and Hyunah Lim.
-Crime Society is generating immense hype! Do you think it can reach ten million viewers this time as well?
-Yes, I'm confident it can.
-Oh! Do you have a reason for your confidence?
-To be honest, Crime Society faced a lot of turbulence during early production.
Since it was a casual U-Tube talk show interview, all sorts of behind-the-scenes stories came up in a relaxed atmosphere.
-Frankly speaking, if the movie had proceeded as originally planned, it would have been a total flop. But a savior… no, I suppose I could call him a guardian angel. Though it's a cringey expression, he practically saved Crime Society.
-Oh! For you to say that much, I'm curious to know who it is. Could you perhaps tell us?
-Hmm. He's someone who's recently been generating a massive amount of buzz behind the scenes in the industry.
-Could it be?
-Yes, that's right. I received tremendous help from Star Entertainment's Midas Touch, Chief Manager Chanwoo Lim.
Chanwoo again?!
At this point, it was getting ridiculous.
Director Hansung Lee went into detail about the specific advice Chanwoo had provided, sharing stories that felt too surreal to believe.
-Haha. But is it alright for you to be hyping up Chief Manager Chanwoo Lim instead of promoting your movie?
-It's because I'm just that grateful. The movie is going to be a huge hit anyway, so I wanted to express my gratitude to the chief manager.
Hye-na set her phone down and remained silent for a moment.
"Has everyone lost their minds…?"
No, they couldn't have lost their minds.
Whether it was Director Hansung Lee, Sena Lee, Hyunah Lim, or even an elite star like Ina Kim—they were all going out of their way to praise him because their gratitude was genuine.
…Because he's that kind of person, he cares a lot even for a flopped idol group like Ebony.
But what truly caught Hye-na's attention wasn't Chanwoo's sheer ability. It was the unshakable trust these artists placed in him.
It proved he was a manager who truly cared for his people.
She felt like she could trust a man like him.
Though it stings my pride that he isn't pursuing me for my own merits.
Hye-na made up her mind. She would make Chanwoo acknowledge her.
「I'll do as you said, Chief Manager.」
She hit send.
The 'read' mark appeared, and she waited for a reply.
「👍」
"???"
He simply left a thumbs-up emoji.
Don't tell me…
Hye-na suddenly realized it was the weekend—
—And that Chanwoo had told her to refrain from contacting him after working hours or on weekends.
I'll make sure he absolutely can't do without me…!
Chanwoo probably didn't know just how fiercely a member of the Mirae Group took the "spirit of challenge" to heart!
Hye-na's competitive spirit flared fiercely toward the man known as Chanwoo Lim.
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