NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 142
“Alright, now that we’ve roughly finished introducing the administrative staff, let’s take a 5-minute break and then have a brief overview of the Rookies’ schedule going forward.”
Ding!
As Director Jeong, the highest-ranking person in the room, declared the break, I immediately approached Han Si-woo.
“Uh, Producer Han Si-woo? Can we talk for a moment…?”
“Oh, sure. I’m always open to a conversation with Ye-rin.”
Han Si-woo nodded happily at my request to talk.
The meeting room was so large that even moving to a corner meant no one could eavesdrop on our conversation.
I led him to the corner of the meeting room and asked in a hushed voice, “…Producer Han Si-woo, why did you come to NAS Entertainment?”
“What do you mean…?”
“You clearly said you were going to start your own company, right? But why suddenly become the producer for Rookies…?”
In my previous life, HS Entertainment, founded by Han Si-woo, initially faced some struggles but quickly built a solid foundation in the first year.
And then after signing Yoo Seol, the first artist after Rookies’ activities ended…
Whoosh!
“He must have soared incredibly high, like he sprouted wings.”
After that, Han Si-woo’s HS Entertainment broke the long-standing system of the top 3 agencies and joined as a new fourth agency.
It was shocking that someone destined to run smoothly in life took on the role of producer for Rookies of all things…
“The only difference from my previous life is my existence…”
So, if my presence prevented Han Si-woo from founding a company…
Uh-oh!
Guilt washed over me as I felt like I had ruined Han Si-woo’s life.
When I pressed him about why he hadn’t founded a company, Han Si-woo merely smiled enigmatically.
“Why…, didn’t I start a company….”
His expression was somehow meaningful.
—
A few days ago.
Ding ding!
“Ah….”
After finishing the last filming with Na Ah Ah, Han Si-woo returned home and collapsed onto the living room sofa.
Maybe because it was late at night, his lavish apartment felt even emptier.
So perhaps…
Silence…
He felt the lingering emotions from finishing the last filming with Na Ah Ah.
“It was just a light-hearted program to start with…”
He had appeared on the show to reestablish his presence in the public eye before creating his company.
However, the end of Na Ah Ah was deeply stirring, unlike the easy start of the program…
As he lay there without changing clothes, staring into space…
Ding dong!
The once-quiet house suddenly filled with the sound of someone entering the password at the door.
Shortly after, someone walked in…
“Hmm? What, you came back earlier than I thought, oppa.”
“You….”
The familiar face of Sua walked into his house.
She was the maknae of “22nd Night,” the first girl group from YW, the company Han Si-woo was previously with.
Just like Han Si-woo’s boy group, Sua’s girl group was considered a key player in establishing YW, so they were quite close.
“You know today was the last filming for Na Ah Ah, right? Didn’t you go for the after-party?”
“If I go to the party, I’d have to sit next to Shin Ji-cheon, and I didn’t want that. But you… I told you not to just come in like this.”
“Sorry. Mom asked me to bring you some side dishes, and I was worried they’d spoil.”
With that, Sua’s hands were full of side dish containers.
Seeing that softened Han Si-woo’s demeanor, as he spoke to Sua in a slightly gentler tone, “Tell your mom… it’s really not necessary anymore.”
“I did tell her, but she keeps insisting. You know, mom really likes you.”
“….”
After saying that, Sua opened the fridge as if it were her own and put the side dishes inside.
Watching her do that, Han Si-woo lay back down on the sofa and whispered to Sua, “…Sua.”
“Why?”
“I’m thinking of postponing my new company…?”
“What?!”
At Han Si-woo’s sudden declaration, Sua shouted in disbelief.
“Oppa, are you crazy?! You broke your contract and left YW to start your new company! And now you say you’re not going to do it?!”
“Come on, isn’t calling it betrayal a bit too much? I contributed a lot to YW….”
“Do you know that every time your name comes up at the company dinner, the CEO cries?”
“….”
“Like literally banging their chest, sobbing, ‘How could Si-woo do this to me?!’ It makes my eyes water too.”
Han Si-woo had known the CEO of YW for 20 years.
Considering that, it was understandable that they felt upset.
With Han Si-woo now silent, Sua sighed and asked him, “You’re not suddenly thinking of going back to YW, are you? What’s up, really?”
“Honestly… I was thinking of working with NAS for a bit….”
“With NAS? Don’t tell me… are you going to produce for the Na Ah Ah kids… wait a second.”
“…?”
Sua froze as she noticed Han Si-woo’s expression and eyes.
When Han Si-woo tilted his head in confusion…
“Why are you acting weird? Is something wrong?”
“Oppa… I have to ask this….”
“What is it?”
“Do you have someone you like now?”
“What?!”
Sua suddenly threw that out of nowhere.
Taken aback, Han Si-woo stammered, and Sua answered casually, “No, what are you talking about?”
“Just that… you have the same look in your eyes that you did when you dated me.”
“….”
Han Si-woo was left speechless by Sua’s answer.
As he fell silent, Sua, acting like a detective, began digging into his feelings.
“Seeing you shut your mouth like a mouse, it must be true.”
“… It’s not like that.”
“Who is it? Someone I know? Please tell me it’s not one of our team’s older girls!”
“… It’s not like that at all.”
“Wait a minute, don’t tell me…!”
With a grimace, she asked him, increasingly suspicious, “It’s not any of those who are debuting with Na Ah Ah, is it? So that’s why you want to work with NAS?! To look after someone you like?!”
“That’s just ridiculous….”
“Is it her?! Ha Ye-rin?!”
“….”
Stunned, Han Si-woo fell silent, and seeing his reaction, Sua murmured with disdain in her eyes.
“You pervert.”
“No, come on, I’m telling you it’s not what you think.”
“She’s 19, right? That’s a 14-year age difference! Get a grip!”
“I don’t even know why I’m getting berated here….”
“Back when you first started as a trainee, she hadn’t even been born! When you debuted at 18, she hadn’t even started kindergarten! And when you went to the military at 27, she was in 6th grade… ACK!”
“Shut! Your! Mouth!”
Han Si-woo finally sat up, forcefully covering Sua’s mouth.
After finally quieting her down, he sighed and continued, “…It’s not like you think. It’s just….”
“…Just?”
“A gut feeling… that I need to go to NAS to achieve what I want….”
“Pervert….”
“If you call me a pervert again, I’ll just kick you out.”
At his threat, Sua brushed his hand away, saying, “I was already planning on leaving anyway. I was just here to drop off your snacks, then I’d leave.”
“Ah, you said you’d be producing the new YW girl group, right?”
“Yeah.”
As Sua grabbed her coat and moved towards the door, she paused and said to Han Si-woo, “But oppa, I don’t recommend you producing for Na Ah Ah….”
“Nothing’s confirmed about taking on that production yet, but why?”
“Everyone’s talking about the audition craze and all, but once my girls debut, those kids will be buried in indifference right away.”
The certainty in Sua’s expression was strong.
“I’ve kept an eye on Na Ah Ah. Yoo Seol, the Ha Ye-rin you like, and the others, they’re all quite skilled. But they can’t compete with my girls.”
“….”
“Our girls are geniuses. The one leading them is so talented you’d think she was born to be an idol. A literal genius.”
A bit over-the-top maybe, but Han Si-woo joked, “A genius? Even more than I am?”
“Yeah, even more than you.”
Sua was completely serious, as if she wasn’t lying at all.
“You know our company’s got a hold on the boy group market, right? If our girl group debuts as I’m producing…”
“….”
“The talk of the top three agencies will disappear. YW will start its dominance, so don’t hold onto false hopes and just come back to YW. That’s all I have to say. I’ll be on my way.”
After saying that, Sua grabbed the doorknob to leave Han Si-woo’s house.
“Wait a minute.”
Han Si-woo stopped her and asked, “So what’s the name of our new trainees’ group?”
“….”
After a moment of thought, Sua finally answered.
“Python.”
“…Python?”
“Yeah, our new girl group is called Python. Anyway, I’m really leaving now, goodnight, oppa.”
She waved goodbye and stepped outside.
Watching her leave, Han Si-woo began to ponder.
“Sua doesn’t put on airs. She doesn’t lie to me.”
She had outstanding production skills and an eye for trainees.
If Sua was this serious about it…
“Looks like YW produced a monster again.”
Given that their debut timelines overlapped, a rivalry between Rookies and Python was unavoidable.
And this competition definitely seemed like it would be fierce.
“Python… that translates to a type of snake.”
What a YWish name.
But more than that, if the opposing group was called Python while our group was called Rookies, didn’t that sound way too weak in comparison?
“Our….”
Han Si-woo realized he was already referring to Rookies as “our group” and immediately took out his phone to call.
“Yes, Director Jeong. I know it’s 1 AM, but you’re still awake, right? …Please don’t scold me. I’ll take care of it. Yes, I’ll be the exclusive producer.”
With that, Han Si-woo chose the path of being Rookies’ exclusive producer.
—
“Intuition….”
“Intuition?”
“I’m just good at sensing things.”
At my sudden response, Han Si-woo smiled bitterly.
“I left YW, my second home, because I felt I wouldn’t be able to achieve my dreams if I stayed there.”
“If Producer Han Si-woo’s dream is….”
“To create the best idol.”
“…!”
Han Si-woo spoke as if reminiscing about the past, his expression filled with longing.
“I always felt a sense of regret during my active days. I could have done better… I could have reached higher….”
“….”
“I always hoped that my successors could achieve what I couldn’t. And I have a gut feeling that the Rookies, including Ye-rin, will accomplish this.”
After finishing his explanation, Han Si-woo extended his hand with a cheerful smile.
“I came here to achieve my dream. It may seem foolish to you, Ye-rin, but please support me.”
“…….”
Certainly…, from my perspective of knowing the future, Han Si-woo’s choice could only be described as foolish.
But….
For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Han Si-woo he had made the wrong choice.
So, I took his outstretched hand and shook it.
“It might be foolish, but I support your choice, Producer Han Si-woo.”
“Ye-rin.”
“…I’ll do my best to make sure you can achieve your dream.”
Then Han Si-woo laughed heartily.
“Yes, I appreciate it.”
I had seen Han Si-woo’s debut highlights on YouTube before.
Though his looks had slightly faded and wrinkles had appeared since then…
The passionate gleam in his eyes hadn’t changed a bit.