15 – Scout (4)

The rain fell steadily.

Jo Min-joo liked days like this.

I don’t like it on days when it’s so strong that a heavy rain warning is issued, because my school uniform gets wet even if I use an umbrella.

With one or two drops of drizzle falling, it was difficult to use an umbrella.

When it was raining moderately, leaning forward slightly with the umbrella and smoking a cigarette while no one could see was one of life’s pleasures.

‘Miss… , it doesn’t stick.’

The disposable lighter is almost worn out.

After trying repeatedly, I finally managed to light a cigarette.

I put my hand in my skirt pocket and looked around to buy a new lighter.

It was only 300 won.

I couldn’t even buy a lighter that cost 400 won.

How long will I have to live like this?

I lied about my age to get a job, got caught and got fired, went to work at a business that didn’t use an employment contract, and couldn’t protest against unfairly reduced wages.

It was a routine that had been repeated since middle school.

When her father died in an accident four years ago, her mother consoled her grief over the loss of her husband with alcohol.

It continues to this day.

When I returned home, the only smell of alcohol was in the air.

Even his father was addicted to gambling.

He jumped into the roadway to avoid the police’s arrest attempt and was hit by a large truck, killing him instantly.

‘My father is addicted to gambling, my mother is addicted to alcohol, and I am addicted to nicotine.’

Jo Min-joo just laughed, exhaling cigarette smoke from his mouth.

He put his hand into his pocket, holding the three hundred won bills that were in his palm.

There was one more thing that was square.

[777 Entertainment Planning Department Producer]

[Imbu-gil]

Now that I think about it, two weeks ago, a handsome man spoke to me on the way to my part-time job.

After that, I was busy working and forgot about it.

As I touched the business card with my fingers, I could immediately see that it was made of expensive material.

‘I want to raise students as idols at our Lucky Seven Entertainment.’

‘Wouldn’t you like to become an idol?’

‘I want to scout because it’s okay to smoke.’

The words that Producer Lim Boo-gil said passed through my mind.

When will he ever find someone who wants him so much?

I just begged like a beggar for one more penny.

A man with such a handsome face said something that made my heart flutter for a moment.

From noble mtl dot com

It was cowardly.

‘If I become an idol, will I be able to quit?’

I’m sick of this cigarette.

From the day I impulsively picked up a cigarette butt with some embers left on the ground and put it to my mouth,

I couldn’t put the cigarette down.

I picked up an old smartphone that I only used for making calls or accessing job search sites.

The screen was cracked and difficult to touch, but I still opened the Internet browser and searched.

What is the life of an idol like?

The first thing that caught my eye was that if I succeeded, I could make a lot of money.

In particular, Lucky Seven Entertainment, run by producer Im Bu-gil, who tried to scout Jo Min-joo, is a top-tier entertainment agency and has produced numerous celebrities.

‘But the success rate is less than 0.1%. If you go all in on being an idol and fail, you’ll be in hell.’

This is what numerous articles on the Internet have in common.

Challenging into the entertainment industry is like gambling, and you will most likely fail, so think carefully.

But Jo Min-joo chuckled.

It’s not strange that my daughter, who is a gambling addict, tries gambling once.

More than anything, she wondered how far down she would go from here.

Among the things you can gain by debuting as an idol,

Jo Min-joo coveted her accommodation the most.

I was able to escape from a house that smelled like alcohol.

‘Why not try being an idol?’

You have to get your money’s worth.

I entered the phone number on my business card into my smartphone.

The phone rang several times and was soon connected.

-Yes, this is Lucky Seven Entertainment producer Lim Boo-gil.

“… It’s me. Cho Min-joo. “I met him on the street last week.”

-Oh yes, Minju. Have you decided to become an idol?

“Yes. But I have one condition, or rather a request.”

-Which one?

“I want to live in the accommodation right away.”

-Um… ….

As expected, it was a difficult request.

It also appeared on the Internet.

Originally, idol accommodations are provided after debut.

There was no way Jo Joo-man’s company would treat him special as he hadn’t even debuted yet.

“If accommodation is difficult, I want to live at my uncle’s house.”

-… My house?

“I can’t pay the rent, but…” . I will do all the housework. Oh, and…. I will also give you my body. “I’ve never slept with a guy and I’m still a high school girl, so it’s not bad, right?”

If you’re going to gamble anyway, you have to bet everything you have.

Jo Min-joo did not touch entertainment, which he thought was a last resort, but

I thought there would be no loss if my first partner was a handsome man like Producer Lim Boo-gil.

But I could hear Producer Lim Boo-gil sighing.

Are you already married or do you have a girlfriend?

It was quite possible.

-Minju, I don’t want that at all.

“… “I’m sorry, you have eyes too.”

-That’s not it…. It’s a bit too common, but value your body.

“Then what if I just say that I like you and want to be hugged by you?”

-Producers don’t touch idols. Idols also have a ban on dating.

Is Producer Lim Boo-gil really saying that?

I didn’t know if it was hypocrisy he brought out to appeal to himself as being kind, but

It didn’t matter either way.

I wanted to take advantage of the 0.1% Chance that could change my life.

“I have one more favor to ask you.”

-Which one?

“Please also include a no-smoking clause.”

Producer Lim Boo-gil’s laughter was heard, and soon an answer came back.

-We are not a smoking cessation clinic for an entertainment agency.

“I will listen to everything you say, so please.”

-… Is it so? Can you really keep your word?

What should I ask for?

I had already rejected my body.

Still, Jo Min-joo’s heart beat a little faster.

-Go to school without missing school.

“… Yes? “Isn’t it hard to be busy when you’re an idol?”

-If you only care about money, you actually have to skip school. But I think Minju isn’t trying to become an idol just for money, right?

“…… Yes.”

-If you promise me that you will never miss school, I will help you quit smoking. It’s difficult to say for sure about accommodation right now, but I’ll try my best to find accommodation.

“Really… ?”

-If the company refuses to provide accommodation, I will find a rental room at my own expense.

What is the reason for doing this?

Honestly, I had my doubts.

I wonder if he has some kind of plan.

Isn’t it tempting to make someone do difficult work by using sweet words like this?

‘Life is a gamble….’

This was something his father sometimes said to him when he was young.

These were truly words from a father who was addicted to gambling, but

Today, I decided to faithfully follow my father’s words.

“I understand. I will go to school regularly. “I won’t skip classes and I will attend class well.”

-Yes. Let’s succeed together.

Let’s succeed together.

It wasn’t something very special, but

Jo Min-joo dropped his cigarette.

Cigarettes are a waste of time,

I thought it would be okay since I was going to quit anyway.

I took out the cigarette pack and threw it away.

At some point, the rain that had been falling steadily stopped.

When Jo Min-ju closed her umbrella, the sunlight hit her skin.

The sunlight that came after all the rain,

It was warm.

***

Berrys members—Jin Hae-sol and Joo Do-yeon went to the office where producer Oh Jung-jun was located.

And immediately he bowed his head deeply.

“”I’m sorry, producer….””

However, producer Oh Jung-jun just looked at the two and said nothing.

Rather, I got up from my seat and grabbed the door handle to leave the office.

“F, producer… !! I will do everything you tell me to do… !! So, please….”

“I will reduce my sleep and limit my calories. “Please give me one more chance.”

Jin Hae-sol and Joo Do-yeon grabbed the pants of producer Oh Jung-jun, who was holding the doorknob, and knelt down.

Producer Jeong Jeong-jun turned his head back and opened his mouth with a grin.

“There are only two of you in Berries?”

“Producer, Haesol and I will work hard to shoot the pictorial. So, leave Na-kyung and Hae-in alone, who are not adults yet!”

Lord Gona said, looking up at Producer Jeong Jeong-jun with her clear eyes.

But producer Oh Jung-jun turned his nose up.

“So you’re saying that only you two will be active as idols? “Let Na-kyung and Hae-in go.”

“Oh, no, producer!! “What we’re saying is that the photoshoot will only be done between the two of us.”

Producer Jeong Oh-joon cut off Go Na-kyung’s words,

“Why are only you two in this Berryz pictorial? All four of us have to come together for it to be Berryz, right? If Na-kyung and Hae-in don’t appear in the pictorial and it’s just you two, how will they be known? “I’m not doing anything.”

Pressed Go Na-gyeong in the opposite direction.

“Producer, wouldn’t it be possible to sufficiently cover that by releasing a new song…? ?”

Jin Hae-sol carefully insisted to producer Oh Jung-jun.

“I’m going to release a new song. I’m preparing now. But if you compare the two of you who released a pictorial and a new song, or the guys who only released a new song and didn’t release a pictorial, which one would be more advantageous? Celebrities fight for recognition, and isn’t it obvious that Na-kyung and Hae-in will be severely pushed out? “As a leader, can’t you even think about that?”

“That may be true, but since Haein and Nakyung don’t like pictorials….”

“Do you think idols are kids’ jokes? “If those two say they can’t do it and you, the leader, listen to it, will the group be maintained properly?”

“… ….”

Producer Jeong Jeong-jun let go of the doorknob, sat down in his chair again, and continued.

“Okay Haesol, since you are the leader, I will give you more authority.”

“Permission… ?”

“Right to expel members.”

Jin Hae-sol and Go Na-kyung’s eyes widened.

Producer Jeong Oh-jun gave Jin Hae-sol a small compliment,

I tried to back out of the conflict with the Berries members.

In other words, it was not producer Oh Jung-jun who forced us to take a pictorial.

To become Jin Hae-sol, the leader.

In the structure of ‘Joo Do-yeon, Go Na-kyung, Yang Hae-in, Jin Hae-sol vs. Producer Oh Jung-jun’,

The intention was to change the structure to ‘Joo Do-yeon, Jin Hae-sol vs. Go Na-kyung, Yang Hae-in’.

“Producer, are you telling me to fight Na-kyung and Hae-in…? ?”

“If you don’t like it, cut it in two. They gave you the right to expel members so you can do whatever you want. What, you hate this too? “Aren’t you just not willing to listen to me?”

“Oh, no….”

Judo Yeon just lowered her head.

Jinhae Sol closed her eyes once and continued her words.

“I will do my best to persuade Na-kyung and Hae-in to take a photo shoot.”

***

“… “Wow, he really is.”

After finishing the phone call with Jo Min-ju, I sighed.

I already knew it, but hearing it with my own ears was no joke.

Jo Min-joo’s life was unhappy.

No, there was criticism that it was so unfortunate that it was misery porn.

Jo Min-joo’s mother lost her husband in an accident and became an alcoholic. In fact, her dead husband was a gambling addict.

It was a dead end.

As the only child of such a poor family, she somehow earned money on her own to support her mother.

She chose to relieve her stress by smoking cigarettes.

“Professor Lim, what’s going on?”

Producer Cho Hyun-ho approached me and asked.

He was the temporary producer of Cursed Dolls two weeks ago under the direction of Manager Go Kang-tae.

“No, it’s nothing.”

… According to what I heard from Manager Jeong Song-i, Producer Hyun-ho Jo encountered severe opposition from the Cursed Dolls,

It is said that he became reluctant to face the Cursed Dolls.

So, it was decided that there would be manager Jeong Song-i next to the Cursed Dolls, and that manager Jeong Song-i would listen to and follow his work instructions over the phone.

It was non-face-to-face producing….

Then where is producer Jo Hyun-ho on a regular basis?

He was next to me.

He was almost at the level of a secretary.

He told me directly that he would like to work under me when I become a senior producer.

… To be honest, I didn’t understand what the intention was.

“Just tell me anything. “I will work hard to ensure that Mr. Lim’s new project succeeds as soon as possible.”

“Oh yes… , thank you.”

It seemed like he wanted to quickly quit his job as Cursed Dolls’ temporary producer.

… I deliberately did not request a temporary producer for fear of causing an uproar among the Cursed Dolls members, but Manager Go Kang-tae sent Cho Hyun-ho without notice.

Tiriring—.

I received a call on my smartphone.

[Ga-eun] Was floating around.

“Yes, Ga-eun.”

-Well, I’m completely cured, producer… !

“Really?”

It’s also fast.

It was a 4-week diagnosis, but I was completely cured in 2 weeks.

I knew, but I didn’t know that the bones would really come together so quickly.

“Then do you want to take vocal lessons starting today?”

-Bo, vocal… ! I’m singing… ?

“That’s right. Even though idols are not professional singers, they still release songs. “You have to practice.”

-Well, that’s right… ! Oh, I’m nervous….

Goo Ga-eun had a habit of elongating the end of her sentences.

She seemed a bit flirtatious, so she sounded cute.

The day I scouted Gu Ga-eun on the street,

… Immediately, the guardian consent form was delivered to the fax machine in office room 302.

Her father had the reputation of being the founder of a small company that turned it into a mid-sized company, to the point where there was almost no one in Korea who didn’t know about it.

The founder was very worried because his daughter had no talent in studying and had difficulty learning technology, but when I suggested she be an idol, she happily accepted.

I saw it in the [Idol Producing] Game story.

“Oh, by the way, Professional Joe.”

“Yes.”

When I called, producer Cho Hyun-ho immediately got up and came to my desk.

… They are of the same rank, and if you listen to Manager Jeong Song-i’s words, it seems like he was a better person than me, but now he’s almost acting like my subordinate.

“Do you know if there is an empty room in the women’s dorm?”

“I’ll find out.”

Producer Cho Hyun-ho left office 302.

It seemed like he was going directly to the management office of the accommodation building.

After waiting for about 15 minutes, he called me.

-They say there is an empty room.

“Then can you let me use the room as soon as possible?”

-I will do my best.

“I’m going to go out and pick up the kids.”

-Okay.

Now it was time to begin training Jo Min-joo and Koo Ga-eun in earnest.

Practice was practice, but it was also the time when the two people who will be working together in the future said their first greetings to each other.

This project is produced by Jo Min-ju and Koo Ga-eun as a duo.

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