MDQ Ch 15
by Lulu“There was no fight. I can only say I’m sorry. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
I couldn’t tell him that Jung Yohan and Park Saebit had argued. If I did, not only I but they too would be scolded by the CEO.
It was enough that I alone got reprimanded.
“Chief Lee, you know how much I trust you. Don’t make things difficult for me. I’m already worried because the members’ contracts will expire soon.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Let’s be careful, all right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll let this slide quietly—on one condition. I’d like you to do me a favor. How about it?”
I tilted my head.
“A favor, sir?”
“Please talk the Given members into renewing their contracts.”
Re-signing, huh…
The company wasn’t exactly exploitative. If anything, it covered and managed the members’ difficult personalities well.
Even though the members weren’t exactly model citizens, there had never been any scandals—largely thanks to the company.
But that didn’t mean I could pressure them to stay. After all, the members, who’d already reached the top of the music scene, seemed to want to move on.
I stayed silent, lost in thought, and the CEO spoke again, “They listen to you, don’t they?”
No, it’s the other way around. I’m the one who listens to them…
“But, sir, is any member against renewing?”
“Hmm. I feel like Saebit will surely stay… The others might be fine, but Yohan worries me a bit.”
“Yohan?”
“Yes. You’re close to him, aren’t you? You’re the only one who gets along so well with that taciturn guy.”
Jung Yohan, who smiled easily in front of cameras, rarely smiled in real life. He wasn’t particularly friendly with the staff either.
“Why does Yohan seem uncertain? Did another agency approach him?”
The CEO shook his head.
“It’s not a loyalty issue.”
“Then…?”
“He just gives off the feeling that he might want to quit the entertainment industry altogether.”
“What?”
It was the first time I learned that Jung Yohan wanted to quit being a singer—or even leave the entertainment industry altogether.
“Anyway, I’m counting on you. That’s all.”
He ended the conversation as if my opinion didn’t matter. I could only sigh as I turned to leave.
I’d finished the errands I needed to handle at the office and was just stepping outside when someone called me from the parking area in front of the company, where stopping was allowed.
As soon as I turned my head, the front window of a heavily tinted sedan rolled down. Through the opening, I saw a man wearing a cap and a mask.
Most of his face was hidden, but I recognized him instantly.
“Jung Yohan?”
Jung Yohan simply gestured with his chin, as if to say I should get in the passenger seat.
Since I hadn’t brought my own car, I welcomed the ride and fastened my seat belt.
‘So that’s why he texted earlier?’
Not long ago, he’d sent an unusual message asking when my work would be done.
“Don’t tell me you came to pick me up?”
I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror and saw a broad smile on my face.
Smiling like an idiot just because my crush came to get me—ridiculous. I cleared my throat and tried to straighten my expression.
“No, I just had something nearby.”
“How long have you been waiting?”
“About ten minutes?”
“If you had business nearby, you could’ve just gone straight home after.”
“Hyung, you act like you’re not happy I came for you,” Jung Yohan spoke stiffly and turned the wheel.
I rushed to explain, “No, I’m happy. I just thought we should be careful because of the photo thing.”
“Ah, that photo.”
He knew about the picture.
He’d seen it this morning at the dorm and knew I’d been called to the office because of it.
Just as I thought that far, an absurd idea suddenly crossed my mind.
‘Did he come because he was worried about me?’
Maybe Jung Yohan felt partly responsible for that picture being taken.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s not like we’re in a scandal.”
“Scandal you say?!”
“A shot like that won’t cause anything serious. Maybe just make a few guys jealous.”
“Jealous guys?”
“Never mind. Did you have lunch?”
“No.”
That ended the conversation. Jung Yohan just kept driving.
Could he be suggesting we go for lunch? I was curious, but I didn’t ask anything. I worried that if I asked, Jung Yohan might change his mind.
He finally parked in a neighborhood I knew well.
Even after checking the familiar apartment building several times, I couldn’t believe it and turned to him.
“Why are we here? We didn’t plan anything today, did we?”
“To eat,” Jung Yohan answered flatly and got out of the car first. Not wanting to sit there awkwardly by myself, I hurriedly followed him out.
He walked confidently to the elevator and pressed a familiar floor.
“Did you tell my father in advance?”
“Yes.”
Unbelievably, Jung Yohan had come to my father’s place for lunch.
It was nice for both me and Dad, but I couldn’t understand why Jung Yohan would do something so out of character.
He’d never come to see my father with me unless there was some arrangement.
Only one guess came to mind.
“Did you just really crave my father’s cooking?”
Jung Yohan, who was almost obsessive about cleanliness, only ever ate well when it was my father’s cooking. I wondered if, perhaps, he was simply missing my father’s food.
It wasn’t a baseless thought. Yohan had lost his parents early and grown up under strict grandparents.
Everyone knew how cold his grandfather, the chairman of a major conglomerate, could be—plenty of stories had been reported about it.
Jung Yohan could only debut as a singer after a big fight with his grandparents. They’d wanted him to quietly work in the family business.
At first, I’d felt sorry for him, thinking his bluntness came from a lack of affection growing up.
Also, because of those circumstances, there was a possibility that Jung Yohan regarded my father—who was especially warm only toward him—in a special way.
But to my surprise, Jung Yohan only responded indifferently, “Think whatever you want.”
As always, my father greeted us warmly.
Or rather, greeted Jung Yohan warmly—that’s more accurate.
The house was filled with delicious smells, and the table was set with more dishes than usual.
As far as I knew, Jung Yohan had never before called my father to ask for a meal, so my father must have been especially happy, cooking with extra care.
Would he show the same enthusiasm if it were me asking?
“Thanks for welcoming me on such short notice, sir.”
Jung Yohan removed his mask and smiled charmingly, as if he’d never been taciturn.
“Short notice? You should call more often. I think of you like my own son.”
Smiling warmly, my father led Jung Yohan to the dining table, once again neglecting me, his real child.
Even after the meal began, he treated me as if I were invisible, his gaze fixed entirely on Jung Yohan. I simply ate in silence.
I didn’t want to whine or beg for my unchanging father’s attention. I didn’t want to risk showing my displeasure and making things uncomfortable for the two of them.
If only I…
As always, if I alone soothed my own frustration, the two of them would remain comfortable.
Perhaps because I always endured and bore everything alone, even when dealing with the Given members, I was oddly accustomed to this kind of situation.
As long as I could endure, everything would be fine. That’s right.
I finished eating first and went to my nearly empty room. Soon after, Jung Yohan followed me in.
I expected him to say it was time to leave, but he sat beside me instead.
“Shall we head back?”
“In a bit.”
Today, he seemed in no hurry to return to the dorm. Maybe he was still bothered by the fight with Park Saebit.
Without pressing him, I carefully brought up what had happened at the office.
“When I met with the CEO earlier… we talked about it. What do you think about renewing your contract?”