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Chapter 328

I have certainly encountered Bae Sejin while being in Ryu GunWoo's body.

'I just cheered him in front of the sink to help him overcome the situation.'

There were times when I doubted that Bae Sejin would remember that experience.

However, I never doubted that he would remember Ryu GunWoo's appearance.

There must be tens of thousands of fans who saw his face, but will he remember the face of a guy he's only seen once? One who wore a hat?

But, if he shouts exclamations while pointing his finger, it means "I know you" no matter who sees it. He recognizes that face.

'Huu.'

Still, I guess he didn't find the situation where "Ryu GunWoo" called me hyung strange. He probably didn't hear him as I was wearing headphones. Great.

As soon as I guessed the situation, I immediately opened my mouth.

I talked to the guy who appeared on my phone.

"Hyung, I'll call you back."

"Uhuuh...?Ah..."

I can't let Bae Sejin know about the situation. I'll cut it off once and cover it up.

However, Sejin moved first. He grabbed my arm and exclaimed.

"You... You found him!"

"...!"

"He...isn't he the guy you saw in the video?"

I understood the situation correctly at that moment.

'Ah, was it like that?'

Yes, I remember now. Bae Sejin accompanied me when I reviewed Ryu CheongWoo's home video.

I assume he remembered because he carefully watched the videos several times.

...Or maybe it became memorable to him because we did the crazy thing of going to our co-worker's parents' house on a vacation night to watch their family videos.

I barely managed to answer.

"...Yeah. He's that hyung."

"I knew it!"

Bae Sejin looked at "Ryu GunWoo" on the screen with complicated eyes.

'Still, you have good eyesight.'

The home video was filmed when I was quite young, and even though the inner content has changed, so the impression would be different, he managed to recognize it.

TL/N: "The inner content" = "soul", as it is KeunDal who is inside GunWoo's body.

"Maybe...Should I say hello to him?"

No, stay still for now.

Sejin asked me while looking at the screen.

"How did you find him?"

"By a member of CheongWoo's family whom he contacted."

To avoid further questions and giving unnecessary answers, I explained the situation in more detail.

Let's get this over with.

"A few days ago, we both took a break and went out. That's when we met and exchanged contacts."

"...Hmm, I see."

From what I see...He didn't even know that CheongWoo and I had dated.

'He's not like Keun SeJin.'

Although Cha YooJin is his roommate, he's the one who doesn't leave his room often.

In any case, the situation seemed to be entering a calm phase. I opened my mouth in a nod.

"Hyung, I was going to tell you the news because you accompanied me to watch CheongWoo hyung's home video. Thank you."

"I...no. I didn't do anything. Anyway, it's great, uh...If there's anything I can help you with, let me know..."

Bae Sejin rambled, but soon acted very social.

He greeted Ryu GunWoo on the screen as soon as he looked him in the eyes.

"So it's you...Ahem, good afternoon."

"Huh? Yes...!"

Even if he answers, I can only hear it in my headphones. Why are you greeting each other together?

"E-even if you're answering, you won't be able to hear me, right?"

Now you know.

"...What is he saying?"

"Wait a moment."

Since this happened anyway, it would be good if you say hello to each other briefly and then I'll hang up the call.

I deliberately looked at the screen and spoke clearly.

"Hyung, you're not communicating well...if you don't mind, I'll disconnect the headset."

It means get ready.

"...I understand!"

This time, his tone changed, perhaps because he thought that this way he wouldn't make a mistake. And his expression changed...Are you imitating me?

The boy relaxed their expression and spoke in a firm voice.

"Good afternoon. I'm Ryu GunWoo."

It doesn't fit.

"...Yes. Hmm, I'm Bae Sejin, who's in the same group as MoonDae."

As soon as the communication began, Bae Sejin reverted to his true self, as if the first greeting he gave was a lie. He became more shy.

Still, I am thankful that the atmosphere calmed down. This is because the person on the screen greeted him politely enough to be excessive.

It's good that they feel detached. Let's keep it that way.

"Yes, I am very supportive of TeSTAR. Congratulations on winning the Daesang."

"...Thank you very much."

However, Sejin responded a little late and with a strange expression, he turned away from the smartphone camera and leaned towards me again.

"...He works in broadcasting?"

"...?"

What are you talking about?

"No, why?"

"It's just that...somehow, his face looks familiar..."

Bae Sejin paused as he spoke. And stared at the guy who was still copying me on the screen.

"..."

That's a pretty significant sign.

I immediately spoke.

"Hyung, then, the next time we meet..."

"Wait."

Bae Sejin raised his hand and spoke with a tone of uncertainty.

"We met a few years ago...at a showroom, and talked about an autograph in front of a sink...?"

"...!"

No, there's nothing to be surprised about. Let's just calm down.

'He's not sure.'

It's just to verify as he remembered that situation and thought about it for a moment.

And anyway, it's not like it was precisely that guy on the screen. He can answer "I don't know what you're talking about" without any problem...

"Aaaah...! In that bathroom..."

"..."

Why are they so excited?

'Are you saying that you also experienced it even though you were just a voice in my mind?'

I watched the two excited boys with cold eyes.

On the screen, "Ryu GunWoo" responded exceedingly well, and so Bae Sejin was immediately convinced.

"...!! I knew it!"

"Waaah, I was wondering if you'd remember..."

"...Of course I remember. Thank you so much for that."

Sejin looked a bit conflicted, but finally added a word.

"It...was very helpful. Thanks to that conversation, I discovered something good."

"Hmm hmm, I see..."

Why is he squinting and looking proud?

It was ridiculous, but he continued in a slightly excited tone.

"I think I would have been very happy to hear that back then...!"

"..."

Ryu GunWoo at that time?

I hope he doesn't mean that he would have said it directly to me...

'Was it for me to hear?'

I was speechless and looked at his screen.

Maybe KeunDal forgot to watch his expression, because he's twisting the corners of his mouth showing a happy face. I can hear Bae Sejin coughing on the side as if he's embarrassed.

"Ahem, yes, I'm glad to greet you like this. I couldn't even give you my autograph back then..."

"..."

Yeah, well...It's good that trivial things helped Bae Sejin back then.

It's no big deal and it's a small anecdote, so it would be better to end it here and move on than for him to realize it later and make a fuss.

I smiled.

"I decided to give him a signed album at the next comeback."

"Ah, hmm, that'll do."

"I'll look forward to it very much..."

"Uh, I'd be honored to do it."

The atmosphere started to become a bit relaxed. To be precise, only Sejin started to let go of his shyness.

'At this rate, they'll start having a light chat.'

There might be more gaps in the conversation, so I fixed it this time.

"Hyung, you mentioned earlier that you also have training tomorrow. I think I have taken too much of his time."

"...! R-right. I'm sorry, I'll have to leave now."

"Ah, yes. Well...Thank you very much."

KeunDal quickly picked up the signal this time, and the call ended like this.

Ttiriring.

Looking at the disconnected screen, Bae Sejin muttered with a mysterious face.

"...He was a true fan of our group."

"..."

It would be weird if I didn't ask at this instant, right?

"Did you two know each other?"

"We didn't know each other...As a fan, he supported me...No, I saw him for a few seconds, so I didn't know he was the one you were looking for! I know you were looking for him, but it's not like I didn't want to tell you..."

"I get it. You don't remember the faces of all the people you've seen."

"Y-yes."

Bae Sejin sighed with a relieved expression.

"But...it's fascinating. You and I got help from the same person...I didn't know we would have something in common like this. I wonder if there really is a fated connection between people."

"Right."

"Ahem...It's a little strange to hear that the person who said something nice to me at the beginning is still cheering me on."

"It's probably because you've been doing well, hyung."

"E-seriously? Hmm hmm, not so much...but, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Sejin seems to be totally excited now.

"Uh, wouldn't it be nice to tell this on the variety shows? Don't you think so?"

"..."

Let's stop here.

"I think it would be good to keep it as a memory for us. More than that, the reason you called me, hyung..."

"Aaah!"

Only then did he change his complexion and get to the point.

"Yes, I received a call from the company...!"

Hmm.

'Was it that important that you ran and came to meet me?'

I doubt he wanted to reverse his statement to surrender. I crossed my arms.

"Was it the agency?"

"It's not that company...It was the company above it!"

Sejin shouted with a slightly excited face.

"I received a direct call from T1 Entertainment!"

"...!!"

The parent company had appeared.

I followed Bae Sejin into the room. Some people gathered in the room in front of him, as if Cha YooJin had received orders to gather them.

"I'm home! As you warned me, I quietly escaped without anyone from the AR team catching me!"

"W-well."

When Kim RaeBin, who was the last to arrive as he had been in the studio, joined in, the briefing finally began.

"No big deal, I just got an offer."

"Offer?"

Ryu CheongWoo explained briefly.

T1 Entertainment sent an email directly without going through the agency. The board's opinion was sent directly to the person in charge who talked about the problem of the dedicated TeSTAR specialist team last time...

I rubbed my chin as I listened to the words and then summarized them in a light sentence.

"So...you're saying that they're going to launch the independent label directly."

"Right."

It won't be affiliated with their subsidiary T1 Stars, but will be directly affiliated with T1 Entertainment.

'They're crazy.'

It was an incredibly generous offer. They even sent a plan to reorganize the liquidation structure and explained how much we benefit.

"What will happen to the agency?"

"They didn't mention anything about it."

It was understandable.

'They'll just get screwed, so they didn't communicate with them.'

Originally, even if the seal was established, the planning and activities were to be carried out independently, but the accounting structure, such as sales processing, was to be attributed to T1 Stars.

'It means that our sales would have been set up like the agency's.'

Because we would have been an agency-affiliated label.

However, if this happens, the relationship with the agency will end neatly.

We will literally transfer.

We will even take the dedicated TeSTAR team with us, so the agency will be greatly affected as it will be on notice.

Still, there is no need to worry about retaliation as the parent company is raising its fist in the back.

"If that's the case...let's get out of that agency!"

"Ooooh~"

It's the perfect escape moment we were dreaming of.

They still didn't know whether or not it was a good situation, but there were already people clapping...

'Hmm, not good.'

I arched my eyebrows.

No matter who sees it, this is an unconventional deal. Changing our affiliation would be questionable, as anyone interested in the entertainment industry could judge whether or not TeSTAR is the right entity for T1.

So, it's a problem.

'We can't get too involved with T1's image.'

T1 is a large company that runs its business like an octopus, but has a trashy image.

TL/N: Just as octopuses have one head, but have eight tentacles, octopus-like businesses refer to a parent company that owns and manages multiple companies.

Even in the cultural sector, it is often said that it "ruins the industry ecosystem" because of its aggressive strategy to take over KPOP through the Tnet channel.

But to become the commercial image of T1 just because it is supporting us?

Joining us directly would be the worst.

'It's not just about benefiting from this great company, it's about becoming the main business of T1 Entertainment.'

I remember years ago when we won the Rookie Group of the Year award, there was a rumor that we got it because of the tyranny of a major broadcasting company, but there is a high possibility that every time T1 commits a ridiculousness, it would affect us as well.

We would have to stand strong, because if something problematic happened in the future, we would be the perfect group to blame as the perpetrator.

'It's not just that, though.'

There is also another, more decisive reason.

'...You can't get the company's image because it's not like it's completely on our side.'

In business, not everything can satisfy everyone's tastes. Problems will definitely arise.

It's the same with the idol business.

So when a problem arises, you also have to take responsibility...If the company starts by feeding us well and respecting us, we end up getting all the aggro.

- T1 is T1

- Ah, fck, let my kids go.

Instead of saying that...

- Hahahaha guys, please do it properly.

- This time TeSTAR members have shown that they have no head. Next time, think it through and keep your hands off, ok?

The number of people making such comments will increase. I can't allow it.

'T1's image does not match that of our interests.'

The moment it goes bankrupt, even if it was a mistake made by the company, they will think the same way as the idols and try to hide the problem as much as possible. The crazy situation could also happen where they also blame the idols.

In the long run, we will be in trouble.

"..."

"What do you guys think? I...I think it would be fine!"

"I-I do too."

The thing is, I don't know if I'm going to be able to convince these guys who are already excited about it.

'Honestly, the reason is a little off-putting.'

Wouldn't it be a stretch to say that people will blame us for every shit the company does and make things harder for us?

I see at least three people who won't be persuaded by those words.

'...I wish I had an emotional cause.'

At that moment, Kim RaeBin muttered quietly at my side.

"Then, some of the AR team will completely change their affiliation and split..."

"...!"

This bastard...said something good.

It was this.

"Hmm, can't we just bring them all in?"

"That's going to be difficult. I don't think the agency will let them off that easily."

I answered deliberately and conclusively.

"Even if we manage to get our dedicated team out, the agency would receive a big hit, so it will be very difficult to get other people out."

"Hmmmm..."

"S-so...what will happen if they can't come with us?"

"You'll be working in a more difficult environment than before."

RaeBin's face turned pale. I crossed my arms.

"But we don't have to force ourselves to stay for them. We are all living our own lives."

"Yes..."

At that moment, Seon AhHyun raised his hand carefully.

"E-excuse me..."

"Yes?"

"Then, can't we just stay here and kick out all the bad guys? Or is it i-impossible...?"

I replied calmly.

"It'll be hard to drive them out."

"Y-yes. I figured..."

Ryu CheongWoo stepped in.

"But can't we force them not to do anything wrong in the future?"

"...!"

"Can we?"

Surprisingly, they are backing down from their initial positions. I nodded.

"Yes we can."

"Oh~ I like that. Let's fight!"

Cha YooJin immediately changed his stance. It's usual for him. Bae Sejin muttered.

"That wouldn't be bad..."

Good. I thought this would also be to your liking.

"Let's consider this position as well."

I received a pretty good response.

'Very good.'

I clasped my hands together.

"So, until everyone is completely convinced of a position...let's wait a while and see."

"A while?"

"Yes, since the conversation has already progressed, I think it will be okay to wait a while."

I turned to the guy sitting next to me.

Keun SeJin.

"Just like he said last time, when we finish getting more Daesangs, our right to talk will be greater."

"...!"

That is, until the rest of the people become more restless.

Keun SeJin opened his eyes wide and soon smiled.

I smiled too.

"Let's wait until then."

After that, TeSTAR received a total of 32 award trophies during the beginning of the year awards season.

And 5 of them were Daesangs.

At that point, we resumed the negotiations we had put on hold.

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