<Chapter 59>
Even though he had erased the company’s lawsuit and helped her find a job, seeing her cry her eyes out while apologizing made it clear… she was still young.
Of course, calling a woman in her mid-twenties who had already entered the workforce a “child” didn’t quite make sense, but after going through repeated regressions, his mental age was already close to that of an old man.
Maybe that was why she simply looked young to him.
“Please stop crying now.”
He said, handing her a tissue.
“You’ll end up dehydrated at this rate.”
“Sniff… I’m sorry. I want to stop too, but I can’t.”
Kim Yerin wiped her tears with the tissue and even blew her nose.
It was a relief that the café was empty. Otherwise, by now, he’d probably have gained a reputation as the bad guy who made a young woman cry.
“To be honest, I wasn’t like this from the beginning, you know? But the company kept scolding me, saying things like, ‘Is this the best you can do? You need to write more provocatively for people to read it,’ every single day.”
Suddenly, she began venting without being asked.
“So as I tried to write more sensational articles, I started crossing the line little by little.”
To be honest, he didn’t really want to hear it, so he just nodded lightly, pretending to listen.
‘Do I really need to listen to all this? Maybe I should just leave.’
He had taken time out of his busy schedule to come here… did he really need to hear all this too?
But since he had already decided to give her one last chance, he figured he might as well do it properly and end things cleanly.
After all, it wasn’t like he had nothing weighing on his conscience either.
“At some point, I couldn’t even tell where the line was anymore. The company said this much was okay, told me to go further… but when I did, they said it was too much. And online, it was nothing but people cursing me. But the funny thing is, out of all the company’s articles, mine had the highest views.”
Well, that made sense.
The writer’s name was displayed at the bottom of the article; there was no way people would just leave it alone.
Under the guise of criticism, they would have easily crossed the line into outright insults.
And yet, at the same time, her articles had the highest views… no wonder she felt the contradiction.
“I think I just lost it. Like, as long as the views were high, it was fine. ‘This is all attention anyway.’ Once I started thinking like that, it just got completely out of control.”
He couldn’t help but think that if Kim Yerin had been assigned to a different department instead of entertainment journalism, things might not have turned out this way.
“I’m really sorry. And I’ll really do my best from now on.”
“You’ll have to move down to the provinces. Will you be okay with that?”
At his question, she nodded.
“I was in a situation where I had to deal with EVER Entertainment’s lawsuit, and I couldn’t even find a part-time job. I was honestly going crazy. You solved that, and even found me a job… I can’t afford to be picky. And honestly… I think going to the provinces might actually be better for me right now. If I stay in Seoul, more people will recognize me….”
It seemed she had gone through quite a lot mentally.
She looked like she had suddenly matured.
‘She’ll live properly from now on.’
He had worried she might still cause a scene even here, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
If she caused trouble even at the place he introduced her to, there would be nothing more he could do… and it would only inconvenience that company as well.
“You just need to do well from now on.”
“Yes.”
“You know I made a lot of mistakes in the past too, right? But now I’ve reflected and am trying to do well as a director. So don’t worry. If you keep trying to make up for it, things will get better. So do your best at your new job.”
“Thank you.”
Finally, Kim Yerin stopped crying.
“I won’t waste the opportunity you gave me.”
He felt relieved, thinking that the controversy about Spade Joker’s schedule no-show would never resurface again.
“Um… then when should I go for the interview?”
“The details are written in that document. I’ve already spoken to them, so you just need to prepare a simple resume and go.”
Only then did Kim Yerin begin to carefully look through the document he had given her.
“Director.”
“Yes.”
“If later… I work really hard and manage to come back to Seoul…”
What was she trying to say?
“Could I apply to your company?”
“My company?”
“Yes.”
Why did so many people want to come to his company as if it were something special?
‘What exactly are they all seeing?’
“You’re free to, but… why?”
He asked, unconsciously making a slightly awkward expression.
“Do you not want me to apply?”
“It’s not that I don’t want you to… I just don’t quite understand.”
“So you don’t dislike the idea, right?”
“But the Spade Joker members and the other staff might not look kindly on it.”
“…Ah.”
It seemed she hadn’t thought that far ahead, as she lowered her gaze.
“Well… I’ll have to bear that too. It was my fault. Please tell the Spade Joker members that I’m truly sorry as well.”
She bowed her head toward him as she said that.
“Alright. Then I’ll get going now. Take care.”
“Yes.”
Now, the issue of Spade Joker’s schedule no-show would never rise to the surface again.
***
Just one day.
The Spade Joker members only rested on the day they returned from Thailand, and the very next day, they immediately began preparing for their comeback.
They voluntarily came to the practice room and practiced choreography together.
“Hello.”
As soon as choreography practice ended, they were scheduled to begin acting practice, and Kang Woojin entered the practice room.
“You all look very tired.”
“Ah, we were just practicing choreography. Sorry, can I go drink some water first?”
Cain said, catching his breath.
“There’s still some time before practice starts, so take your time.”
“Yes.”
Cain sprang to his feet, grabbed an empty water bottle, and left the practice room.
“You said it was your first time going abroad, right? How was Thailand? Was it fun?”
Kang Woojin asked casually.
“It was so fun and fascinating! It was all of our first time going abroad. Even though it’s the same world, it felt like we were in a completely different one.”
Sora answered excitedly.
“Sounds like you really enjoyed it.”
“Yes.”
Watching their bright expressions, Kang Woojin felt a sense of envy.
‘It would’ve been nice if I had just shown my true self when I first debuted.’
At their age, he had been too busy hiding his true self.
His company had constantly told him that an actor’s image was everything, and that someone as bright and cheerful as he wouldn’t get roles in romance or action genres.
But now, unlike when he debuted, many actors appear on variety shows, show their genuine personalities, and still receive recognition for their acting.
Watching that, Kang Woojin had considered revealing his true self as well… but he couldn’t.
He had heard those words for too long, and everyone around him discouraged him from doing so.
On top of that, he was worried about his fans’ reactions.
They liked the “Kang Woojin” persona created by the company… what would happen if he suddenly revealed that it was just a character and showed a completely different image?
That fear held him back.
‘And because of that, I kept delaying it… and ended up like this.’
“Later, when we earn a lot of money, I want to travel here and there with the members. Actor Woojin, which countries have you been to?”
“I go to Japan and China often for events or photoshoots, and the U.S., France, Greece… I think I’ve been to too many places to count.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yes.”
“That’s amazing.”
At that moment, Cain returned with a bottle full of water.
“Hyung, me too.”
“Me too.”
As if he had expected it, Cain handed water to Juseok first.
“I feel alive again.”
The Spade Joker members took turns drinking water.
“Ah, this is something we bought in Thailand.”
Juseok brought a shopping bag from the corner and handed it to Kang Woojin.
“This is for me?”
“Yes.”
“No way… You even bought me a gift?”
Kang Woojin asked several times, unable to believe they had bought something for him as well.
“Thank you. I mean… I didn’t expect you to even think of getting me something. Thank you so much.”
“It’s nothing. You’ve worked hard because of us. And it’s not anything special… please just accept it.”
“How is this nothing? The fact that you thought of me is already something to be thankful for. Thank you.”
Kang Woojin carefully put the shopping bag aside.
“Alright, shall we start practice now? You know today is the last practice, right?”
“Today is the last one?”
“Yes. After today’s practice, it’s filming.”
Sora looked shocked at the mention of the final practice.
“Will we be able to do well?”
“Don’t worry. You don’t have that many lines. And honestly, you’re better than I expected. Don’t feel too pressured. Just think of it as managing your expressions on stage. I’ll be there on set anyway.”
At Kang Woojin’s words, Sera’s expression relaxed slightly.
“Alright, then shall we really start practice now?”
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