The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 26 - New Stage (1)

 

On the way back after wrapping up King’s affairs, I turned to Kang Ye-seong.

 

“Tomorrow, an article will come out.”

 

“Huh? What article?”

 

Still dazed, Kang Ye-seong blinked at me in surprise.

 

“Of course—the one about WF taking over King.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Why? You don’t believe it?”

 

He gave a small nod.

 

I figured as much. To him, what had just happened probably still felt like a dream.

 

“Even so, you need to get your head straight. Once your injury heals, you’ll have to prepare for activities.”

 

“But… we’re already promoting.”

 

“Do you really want to keep promoting with that song?”

 

<Micho Macho Micho> was a track that had nothing to do with the members’ opinions.

 

Kang Ye-seong hesitated, then admitted,

 

“I know it has a ridiculous reputation, but the NIKE fans like it.”

 

It wasn’t the song they liked, though.

 

Still, I nodded.

 

“Then we’ll do one more week of promotions. But you won’t be participating, Kang Ye-seong.”

 

“Huh? Why not?”

 

“Because intense promotions aren’t good for someone who’s injured.”

 

He had gotten seven stitches on his head, after all.

 

“From the next promotion onward, you’ll have to join in whether you want to or not, so don’t look too disappointed.”

 

After a beat, still sulking, he answered,

 

“…Yes!”

 

It was short, but firm—his voice carried strength. I smiled faintly.

 

“So, do you trust me a little more now?”

 

“Sorry?”

 

“At first, you thought I approached you just to sponsor you.”

 

That’s exactly what he thought.

 

Remembering what happened backstage at the comeback stage, Kang Ye-seong lowered his head.

 

“I’m sorry…”

 

“It’s fine. Anyone in your position would have suspected the same.”

 

I reassured him, telling him not to worry. Perhaps because of that, his expression brightened a little.

 

Soon, he carefully asked,

 

“CEO, you never planned to separate me from the other members, right?”

 

“Why would you think that?”

 

“If you really wanted to, you would’ve gone to them first. And of course, they would’ve reacted just like I did.”

 

Kang Ye-seong’s faith in Victory was… always the same. Unshakable.

 

I chuckled softly and nodded.

 

“Exactly. I figured that if I didn’t handle things that way, you’d never trust me.”

 

“I…”

 

“Am I wrong?”

 

Kang Ye-seong was someone who believed no favor came without strings attached.

 

“Well, I’m glad it seems like you’re starting to trust me.”

 

“I wouldn’t say I trust you just yet.”

 

He pouted, sulking again.

 

“But your tone has softened, hasn’t it?”

 

When he opened up to someone, his words naturally softened.

 

Just like now.

 

“I look forward to working with you, Kang Ye-seong.”

 

“We’re not working together yet. I still need to ask the other members first.”

 

Of course, that was really just a formality.

 

***

 

“I’m totally fine with it!”

 

Lee Nak-hwa, who had woken up while I was busy with King’s matters, smiled brightly.

 

“I’m fine with it too.”

 

Shin Yoo-soo nodded along.

 

“No need to ask! I’m fine with it too, Ye-seong hyung!”

 

“Same here!”

 

Cheong-ryang and Haneul voiced the same sentiment.

 

I turned back to Kang Ye-seong with a smile.

 

“Well then.”

 

Looking a little flustered, he turned to the members.

 

“Hey, guys! What if this person ends up being as bad as Kim Sang-cheol? What then?!”

 

“But NIKE fans are all kind, aren’t they?”

 

Lee Nak-hwa tilted his head as if it was nothing to worry about.

 

Cheong-ryang chimed in cheerfully.

 

“Exactly, Ye-seong hyung! NIKE fans are all angels! And our CEO’s a NIKE fan too, so of course he’s different from Kim Sang-cheol!”

 

“Not angels, but Victory’s fairies.”

 

“Fairies or angels!”

 

Haneul teased Cheong-ryang, playfully locking his neck in a headlock.

 

They looked so happy, it was easy to forget we were still in the hospital. Well, considering Kang Ye-seong and Lee Nak-hwa had already been moved to the VIP ward, it didn’t matter much.

 

“Anyway, someone will be here soon. I’d like you to read through the contract and sign it.”

 

“Wait—we’re signing contracts here in the hospital?!”

 

Cheong-ryang’s eyes widened.

 

“Is that a problem?”

 

“Well… the parent company’s AMA, right? Doing it here feels kinda shady.”

 

“What are you talking about?!”

 

Haneul smacked him on the back of the head.

 

“Sorry, CEO! He’s just immature!”

 

“Hey! Haneul! Don’t hit my head!”

 

Those two always got along that way. The youngest were no different.

 

“We look forward to working with you, CEO.”

 

“Me too!”

 

Lee Nak-hwa nodded beside Shin Yoo-soo.

 

I smiled at them.

 

“I’ll assign a manager to you soon, and we’ll get your dorm arranged right away.”

 

“Right away?”

 

Lee Nak-hwa’s eyes widened.

 

“But… it’s only morning.”

 

Come to think of it, he was right.

 

“It doesn’t matter if it’s morning.”

 

After all, which real estate agent would refuse me when I was willing to pay top price for a place?

 

“Please get new furniture if possible. Use this card to cover the costs.”

 

I handed the card to Haneul.

 

“Wh-what?! A black card?!”

 

Haneul’s eyes nearly popped out, and Cheong-ryang pursed his lips at the sight.

 

“A black card? Isn’t that the kind of premium card issued only to the top one percent worldwide?”

 

The two exchanged a glance before snapping into an exaggerated salute.

 

“CEO! I’ll serve you for life!”

 

“I’d appreciate that.”

 

Victory would soon reach the top—and with them, AMA would grow even bigger than it already was.

 

“I’ll share the dorm location with you through Kang Ye-seong. Just remember, that card doesn’t accept small payments. Oh, and while you’re at it, change your phones—and your numbers too.”

 

Because Kim Sang-cheol might try to contact them.

 

I didn’t say it aloud, but sharp as ever, Kang Ye-seong immediately understood why.

 

“Yes, CEO.”

 

He answered calmly and reassured the others, while I stepped aside to give them a little private time together.

 

“They really look happy.”

 

Seo Do-hwan, who was waiting outside, commented as soon as I stepped out. Victory’s voices carried all the way into the hall. I chuckled lightly.

 

“Of course they are.”

 

They had spent three years trapped under a sham of a company, run by little more than thugs. Now, at last, they could perform properly for their fans. They had every reason to be happy.

 

Seo Do-hwan glanced inside, frowning.

 

“I should’ve beaten those bastards harder.”

 

“If you had, they’d be dead by now.”

 

“I know.”

 

I shrugged at his sharp tone.

 

“Oh? Do-hwan hyung! Yoon-hoo hyung!”

 

At that moment, Lee Yoo-seong appeared at the end of the hallway.

 

Seo Do-hwan’s brow furrowed.

 

“Where were you?”

 

“I just ran to the convenience store! Thought the hyungs might be thirsty.”

 

“What?!” Seo Do-hwan shouted, throwing the hospital room door open. “Hey! You guys! Did you make Lee Yoo-seong run an errand for drinks?!”

 

But Lee Yoo-seong had clearly said it himself—he went on his own, just because he thought the older guys might be thirsty.

 

How did that somehow turn into Victory forcing him to run errands?

 

The members immediately waved their hands in protest.

 

“We didn’t ask Yoo-seong to get anything, hyung!”

 

“Really! We told him we were fine, but he insisted!”

 

“We couldn’t stop him!”

 

Cheong-ryang and Lee Nak-hwa shouted over each other.

 

Worried they’d faint from panic, I placed a hand on Seo Do-hwan’s shoulder and calmed things down.

 

“Don’t worry too much about it. Yoo-seong, aren’t you tired?”

 

“I’m not tired!”

 

“Really? I was about to tell you to skip school today if you were. But if that’s the case…”

 

“I am tired!”

 

I knew it.

 

I laughed quietly and took the black plastic bag he was holding.

 

“Take the day off. I’ll let your teacher know.”

 

“Yes!”

 

With a bright smile, Lee Yoo-seong pulled out a drink for himself. He had bought plenty—not just for Victory, but for us too.

 

“I got drinks for you as well, Yoon-hoo hyung, Do-hwan hyung! Here!”

 

He handed me a health drink—the same one he picked for himself—and gave a soda to Seo Do-hwan.

 

…Why did I get the health drink?

 

I wondered silently but opened the cap without complaint.

 

“Want to trade?”

 

“No. You don’t even like this one.”

 

More than that, I had no intention of swapping something Lee Yoo-seong had chosen for me himself.

 

“By the way, Seo Do-hwan, there’s something you and Yoo-seong need to handle.”

 

“What is it? And just so you know, I’m not managing an entertainment company.”

 

“Even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t let you.”

 

It wasn’t about incompetence—I simply had no intention of leaving the company in his hands.

 

If it were the adult Yoo-seong, though… that might be different.

 

Anyway.

 

“In two months, Victory will resume activities with new members.”

 

They’d be completely transformed.

 

And on that very day—

 

“Make sure to protect Kang Ye-seong’s family during the showcase announcing Victory’s new start. And keep watching over them until then.”

 

“Kang Ye-seong’s family…?”

 

Seo Do-hwan thought for a moment before asking,

 

“His grandmother and the kid?”

 

“Not a kid—Yoon-joo.”

 

Her real name: Kang Yoon-joo.

 

Seven years old this year. Eighteen years younger than Kang Ye-seong.

 

“If you and Yoo-seong can’t protect them properly… they’ll die.”

 

Kang Ye-seong’s grandmother. And Kang Yoon-joo.

 

At the hands of none other than Kim Sang-cheol.

 

“So… I’m counting on you.”

 

If that protection failed, Kang Ye-seong would eventually lose his mind. I had tried countless times to stop it myself, but it was beyond my ability.

 

If I took out Kim Sang-cheol first, Kang Ye-seong’s family would die in an “accident.” If I canceled the showcase to prevent that accident, Kang Ye-seong would end up distrusting me again.

 

In the end, the conclusion was clear:

 

There was no way I could handle Kim Sang-cheol on my own. That was why I had to rely on the returnees’ help.

 

Just like now.

 

“You really are terrible, boss.”

 

“I can’t exactly deny that.”

 

It wasn’t surprising in the least.

 

Seo Do-hwan looked at me with a dissatisfied expression and muttered,

 

“To protect Kang Ye-seong’s grandmother and sister, I’ll have to stay out of Seoul for a while.”

 

Kang Ye-seong’s family didn’t live in Seoul, but in a rural village on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.

 

“You won’t be lonely. Yoo-seong will be going with you.”

 

Under the pretense of a “rural experience” program.

 

“Are you sure you’ll be okay, boss?”

 

“Me?”

 

I smiled at the sudden concern in his voice.

 

“Honestly, just thinking about how quiet the house will finally be makes me smile.”

 

“Yeah, sure,” Seo Do-hwan grumbled, clearly not expecting that kind of answer.

 

I looked at him seriously and said,

 

“I’m counting on you.”

 

For the two months leading up to Victory’s new beginning, I would give everything I had for them as well.

 

So…

 

“Make sure you protect them.”

 

Kang Ye-seong’s family.

 

Without a word, Seo Do-hwan handed me a can of soda. I figured he wasn’t going to ask me to switch this time.

 

“Ah.”

 

I chuckled lightly and tapped my health drink against his can.

 

Now, it was time to move forward together to overcome the challenges ahead and save Kang Ye-seong