<Episode 88>
Since there was still time left before lunch break ended, I took the script with me and headed to the broadcasting station.
Rather than calling Kim Jawook over and making him come, it seemed much more efficient for me to deliver the script personally.
As I parked and got out of the car, fans waiting in front of the station for idols recognized me and began whispering among themselves.
I pretended not to hear anything and kept walking.
“Isn’t that him? The CEO of Spade Joker?”
“Yeah… I think so?”
“Wow. He’s really handsome.”
“Why is our group’s CEO a pot-bellied ajusshi who can’t even do his job?”
“Seriously.”
Hearing them curse, a company CEO didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.
‘I used to hear things like that a lot too.’
During the first run, I truly didn’t know anything and couldn’t consider the fans’ perspective at all.
Because of that, I received all kinds of insults.
Some of them were about my appearance, too.
‘Back then, since my face wasn’t revealed yet, I heard a lot of things like that.’
“Oh? CEO.”
At the voice calling me warmly, I turned my head and saw PD Ki standing there.
It was a face I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“PD Ki, it’s been a while. What a coincidence to meet you like this.”
“I know, right? But seriously, CEO… you’ve been way too busy lately, haven’t you? No contact at all. I’m a bit hurt.”
“I apologize. I’ve been out of my mind with work.”
“I heard you even had dinner with PD Yoo.”
I had no excuse to offer at that.
“Recently, PD Yoo sent me a variety show proposal. I barely managed to make time for that. I was planning to contact you soon anyway. And from what I heard, you’ve been busy with a new program as well?”
“PD Yoo told you?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect timing then. Could you have Spade Joker’s main vocal, Zen, appear on our program later?”
“Zen?”
Since I only knew that PD Ki’s new program was a music variety show, I couldn’t answer right away.
“Yes. No… please hear me out, CEO. I’ve searched and searched, but there are no fresh faces. At this rate, I thought the program might flop, so I even went to music shows… and when I saw Spade Joker’s stage, Zen? His voice is pretty unique, you know?”
Zen could produce two types of voices.
One was close to a clear, delicate tone, and the other was a husky tone.
That made him essentially the core of Spade Joker’s overall vocal color.
“That’s true.”
“It’s not anything difficult… just one cover performance. We’ll gather guests at a campsite and have them sing. Shouldn’t Zen show off his skills at least once?”
“I think it’s a good opportunity as well. I’ll ask him and get back to you. He’ll probably say yes.”
“That’s great news. I’ll look forward to it.”
“Yes. Take care.”
After exchanging brief farewells, I resumed walking.
‘I ended up bringing two pieces of good news without intending to.’
[Spade Joker]
I arrived in front of Spade Joker’s waiting room.
I lightly clenched my fist and knocked on the door.
“Yes.”
Kim Jawook’s voice came from inside.
When I opened the door, Kim Jawook and the Spade Joker members looked at me with surprised expressions.
“CEO.”
“Is something wrong?”
Looking at their pale faces, I shook my head.
“There is something… but if it were bad news, I would’ve called you first.”
At that, Kim Jawook and the members visibly relaxed.
“As I just said, it’s not what you think… it’s actually good news. First, Leejoo.”
“Yes.”
“You received a drama script.”
I handed the script to Leejoo.
He accepted it carefully, as if receiving something extremely precious.
“It’s a horror drama. The role you were offered doesn’t have a huge part, but that actually makes it good for getting started in acting.”
“Wow.”
“Your role should be written in the front. Take a look. If you like it, we’ll set up a meeting.”
“Yes!”
Leejoo smiled brightly.
“Did you come all the way here just to deliver this? You could’ve called me.”
“I was heading back to the company after lunch anyway, so it’s fine. You don’t even have a road manager; it’d be a waste of time to call you over. And Zen.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to try going on a music variety show?”
“A music variety show?”
“Yes. We got an offer. It’s a program where you sing cover songs at a campsite. It might not be extremely high-profile, but it’s a good chance to show your skills. What do you think? If you’re interested, I’ll arrange the filming schedule.”
“I want to do it!”
Zen answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll contact them.”
“Yes!”
The other members congratulated Zen and Leejoo.
“The rest of you will also start getting offers for individual activities soon.”
This wasn’t just something I said casually.
In the previous run:
Cain appeared on a mystery variety show, proved himself as the “brain,” secured a fixed position, and dominated similar programs.
Heeseo, the rapper, accepted a drama OST featuring offer from a solo female singer, gained recognition, and rose as a new powerhouse in the OST scene.
Juseok, the main dancer, appeared on a survival dance program and achieved the feat of winning first place.
Lastly, Sora, the sub-vocal and lead dancer, became a star in the pictorial world. After that, she even received acting offers and became the first among the members to debut as an actor.
‘Even if offers don’t come in, I can just push for them myself.’
“So don’t relax… always stay prepared. I’ll get going now.”
“You’re leaving already?”
Kim Jawook asked.
“Lunch break is almost over. I need to get back to work. Finish your shoot well today. Let’s push just a bit more.”
“Yes.”
***
“…Kang Woojin? Why are you still here?”
After finishing work in the afternoon and returning home, the one who greeted me was none other than Kang Woojin.
He was cooking together with John Lombardi’s parents.
“Well… your mother told me to stay for dinner. It’s been a while since I’ve had a home-cooked meal, so I couldn’t refuse.”
I recalled that Kang Woojin’s parents had moved to the countryside, and that he would visit them to rest whenever he didn’t have filming.
‘Even if it’s been a while since home cooking, I didn’t expect him to come all the way here.’
“I did say it would be better for you to have a quiet family dinner, but they kept insisting I stay, so I ended up coming.”
As if reading my thoughts, Kang Woojin fired off his explanation rapidly.
“Go change and wash up first.”
They were trying to protect Kang Woojin by sending me to the bathroom.
I didn’t intend to scold him anyway, so I obediently headed there.
‘I thought I’d get dragged around by Kang Woojin, but he kept talking to my parents in my place, which actually made things easier.’
“Yes.”
After washing up and changing into comfortable clothes, I came out.
In the meantime, the table had been filled with food.
“Why did you make so much?”
“I wanted to show off my skills.”
“Your mother insisted on bringing everything to cook for you.”
“From the U.S.? That must’ve been heavy. You could’ve just eaten out.”
“She insisted that it’s different when it’s food made by a mother. I ended up giving in completely.”
“Hyung, you were really raised with love.”
At Kang Woojin’s words, I could only smile awkwardly.
“Come on, let’s eat.”
After dinner, Kang Woojin even did the dishes, and we all spent time together in the living room.
“I’m not sure if it’s okay for me to be part of family time like this.”
It seemed like Kang Woojin was finally thinking of leaving, as he gave an awkward smile.
“Oh, if you leave like this, we’ll feel sad. You showed us around Seoul all day today. Just relax, eat, and rest before you go. And come visit anytime.”
“Thank you.”
Kang Woojin sat on the sofa, sipping from a can of beer.
“When are you going back to the U.S.?”
“We came for a three-day trip. I’d love to stay a week, but your father can’t leave his work for that long.”
Three days.
One day had already passed, which meant I only had to endure two more days.
‘I’ll only see them in the evening tomorrow anyway because of work. That’s a relief.’
“By the way, what does your father do?”
“He runs a law firm.”
“You’re a lawyer, and you run a firm too?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow.”
“I even planned to pass it down to him, but suddenly he said he liked K-pop and wanted to go to Korea.”
“Did you get angry?”
At Kang Woojin’s question, my father shook his head.
‘If he were my real father, he would’ve called me an idiot and looked at me with disdain.’
“He found something he wanted to do, so of course I congratulated him. That’s a parent’s duty. And since he studied business administration, I told him to do what he wanted. Even if he fails and returns to the U.S., he’ll still have something to rely on. Isn’t that what parents are for?”
“And the fact that he wanted to go to Korea… my home country, made me happy.”
They were completely different.
‘Seriously… is this even possible?’
For the first time, I began to envy John Raid Lombardi.
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