Chapter 149: Competent Or Incompetent 2 (1/2)
Oh my G.o.d.
I now understood what was going on.
“Ms. Jung Jae, I have never accepted money to work for anyone.”
-I'm not recording you. I know that there are brokers for this, but I didn't know who to contact so I contacted you directly. If you find it troublesome to talk on the phone, I'll wait for you. If you let me know when you're free, I'll…
“Wait, wait. There's nothing troublesome, and I don't have a broker. I don't know where you heard all that from, but they are all baseless rumors.
-… I heard it though. That even Nam Joyoon sunbae used this method…
“Those are baseless rumors. Malicious, nonsensical rumors.”
Why were rumors like this still circulating? The PR Team spread a detailed press release, and I even did an interview. SBE Film even got Director Choi Sungwon commented on it.
Her breaths began more uneven.
It was so clear that I could tell she was agitated without her saying anything.
“Don't think about anything strange, you need to prepare for Pretty Girls' next alb.u.m-“
-So-sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
She hung up.
I tried calling back, but her phone was turned off. What a bolt out of the blue. It had only been a few minutes since I decided to throw my concerns and worries to the side and enjoy working.
I left a voicemail asking her to call me back then looked through my address book. I found Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n's phone number and called him. This time, the phone only rang, no one picked up.
The Pretty Girls' company number was…
-He-h.e.l.lo?
I was about to hang up when someone answered. It was a woman's crying, nasally voice. She wasn't simply crying. It sounded like she had been wailing. On top of that, I could hear others crying in the background.
What was going on now?
“Is this not Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n's phone number?”
-Th-the chief can't answer the phone right now. He left his ph-phone here…!
“Wait. Please calm down. Are you a member of Pretty Girls?”
-Pretty Girls is no longer. Heeuuu…. It's dead.
“What?”
-We are disbanding…!
***
Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n was squatting in a dark washroom.
His phone slipped in his hands from all the sweat.
-I'm going to take my hands off the project so if you want to continue, continue on your own.
“President, no, hyung!”
-Jung Jae left and Yoon Bora and Park Hyojin are packing their bags, right? Then that's the end of it.
The president said leisurely. Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n cracked open the washroom door. The blinding room lights s.h.i.+ned in his eyes, and he could hear people sniffling. He looked outside with bloodshot eyes.
It was a small one-room apartment.
The three high school members of Pretty Girls were curled up on their beds. Their faces were buried in their knees. Their crying voices leaked out from within. Their pet.i.t shoulders trembled.
Two adult members were jamming their things in their luggage carriers.
-Only the dregs are left now that the useful ones have left. What can we do with them?
“Only the dregs are left? Dregs? How can you say that to these girls who put their lives into…!”
Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n halted mid-shout.
The three high school members were looking at him.
-Anyways, I want out so don't call me.
He hung up with a yawn. Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n tried calling back, but his phone was turned off. He rubbed his face with his stiff hands before getting out of the washroom. The two adult members glanced at him but didn't stop packing their bags.
“Hyojin, Bora.”
“Don't try to stop us. We've already decided.”
Park Hyojin said coldly.
“Don't think about dragging us down with the contract either. The president said that we could leave anytime we want since he could no longer support our rent, utilities, and food.”
“We asked a lawyer, and he said there's no legal issue.”
Yoon Bora added with wary eyes.
Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n clenched and opened his hands.
“I'm not trying to bring up the contract. Just, we decided to put our all into this single. Let's at least do this. Just this once. We already got a song.”
“A song from some unknown producer?”
His face distorted.
“… I'm sorry I couldn't get you a song by a famous songwriter. I'm truly sorry about that. But this song is the best out of all the t.i.tle tracks we've had so far. It'll be a waste to throw it away now. So please trust me once more and-!”
“I can't trust you.”
Park Hyojin turned to look at Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n.
“I can't trust you.”
“What?”
“We've already flopped three times! On top of that, Jae unni left. Anyone who looks at this situation will know it's hopeless, but you want to try once more? We're already twenty-one. We're already late in trying to debut as a different team, yet you want us to waste our time even more?”
“Why do you only think about yourself? Don't you think that disbanding right now is the best for us? I'm going out to find a path for myself so don't try to stop me when you are incompetent!”
“Unni!”
A high school member turned and glared at the adult members.
“Aren't you being too harsh? Don't you know how much the chief has endured for us?”
“And we didn't? It must be so great to be so easygoing since you're still high schoolers.”
The high school members' eyes turned red at those ridiculing remarks. This was like adding fuel to a fire. The members began fighting loudly.
“Stop, stop it.”
Pale-faced, Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n tried to stop them.
Then he asked the adult members,
“Have you thought about what you're going to do once you leave the team?”
“Do you think we'd be packing our bags without deciding anything?”
Yoon Bora added with a proud expression,
“Suran is in NK Entertainment's girl group that's about to make a debut…”
“What? NK? Suran joined NK?”
Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n hurriedly held Yoon Bora's shoulders.
“I clearly told her not to-!”
“Are you even trying to block the path of a member who left long ago?”
“We're going there too.”
Park Hyojin added.
“NK is apparently looking for people with experience in performing. We even scheduled a meeting with their chief. We might debut right now.”
“I know their CEO's methods. That's why I told you not to go there!”
Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n shouted, aghast.
“Racy outfits that reveal your b.r.e.a.s.t.s and thighs. Sensual ch.o.r.eography. They film their music videos like p.o.r.nos! They are going to send you on programs that ask what your s.e.xual preferences are! How can you think about joining such third-rate-!”
“What's wrong with that?”
Park Hyojin asked as if she found this amusing.
“They are investing money into music videos and getting us appearances on shows. What's wrong with a s.e.xy concept? That's a tactic as well. Isn't it more important to gain people's attention and spread our names?”
“Hyojin!”
“Also, this place is also third-rate. No, this place is worse. Everyone besides you and those girls know that the president brought Jae unni out when he went to drink with investors.”