Devil’s Music

"Come in."

As Changhan Kim spoke, the door opened. Byungjun seemed not surprised, sensing people outside the room, but Yunjeong and Jinyeon, who were sitting farthest from the door, sprang to their seats.

"Sujeong Unnie! Director Lee!"

Sujeong, looking pallid and worn, looked at Geon. Director Lee, whom she thought had been fired, couldn’t even meet Geon’s eyes and entered the room with his head bowed. Observing the two, Changhan Kim took a moment to catch his breath before speaking.

"Director Lee was dismissed. As I mentioned before, I was very angry when I returned to Korea.

However, after repeated dreams, I concluded that he only followed my orders, and I realized that all his sins were on me, so I brought him back."

At Changhan Kim's words, Director Lee kneeled down as if crumbling.

"I... I'm sorry!"

Unlike Changhan Kim, Director Lee, who had been involved directly in business and had been harsh to Geon, did not make Geon look pleased.

"I have apologized to Sujeong."

As the group’s gaze shifted to Sujeong’s pale face, she bowed deeply. Changhan Kim spoke again after a moment of looking at her.

"Not only to Sujeong, but I have also apologized to the kids who were with us at that time and to the YDN kids who entertained under my orders, and to the managers and stylists who did all the other dirty work. I told them I was sorry for making them do such things."

Changhan Kim turned towards Byungjun.

"I felt responsible for this. And I have come to realize that all the dirty deeds done by our YDN were ultimately on me. That’s why I plan to appoint a new CEO at YDN and step down."

Byungjun looked surprised as Changhan Kim continued.

"Although you have forgiven me, I wanted to apologize once more. These two came here not of my own will but of their own."

"It may be awkward, but please understand that this is their struggle to be forgiven and move on with their lives."

After Changhan Kim finished, Sujeong kneeled and bowed her head.

"I am truly sorry, and I was grateful."

Geon, without changing his expression, let out a tired smile.

"That’s enough, please get up."

Even as Geon spoke, Sujeong’s shoulders shook without straightening her back.

"Boohoo, there’s no fault on the president, I started entertaining because I wanted to succeed, not because the president forced me. It was my fault, boo-hoo."

Director Lee also bowed his head and said.

"The same goes for me. If I really hated it, I would have left the company. More than anything, my will to succeed was strong; it was not under the president’s orders, but my own will that I moved. If you are to blame anyone, blame me."

Geon watched the two sincerely remorseful people, stood up, and helped Sujeong and Director Lee to their feet.

"Get up and sit comfortably. President, please sit comfortably too, I feel uncomfortable."

Although they had no intention of sitting comfortably, upon hearing Geon’s discomfort, the three straightened their backs.

Having straightened the legs of the three who were kneeling, Geon returned to his seat and smiled.

"President Changhan Kim. You're stepping down?"

"Yes, that's right."

"That's out of fashion."

"Excuse me?"

"Stepping down as a way of taking responsibility isn't really taking responsibility, it’s running away."

"But, but..."

"Clean it up yourself, directly."

"What?"

"If someone else sits in that position and tastes power and money, it will just produce another villain. You should clean up the mess you made yourself."

As Changhan Kim looked shocked, Geon turned to Director Lee.

"From now on, please cherish and love the artists under your care. Watch over their success and personal growth. Don’t see them as just money-making machines, but as individuals."

Geon turned his head towards Sujeong and after watching her for a moment, Sujeong slightly bowed her head under his gaze, and he said.

"Ms. Sujeong... love yourself a bit more."

Sujeong was startled by Geon’s unexpected words, and as she raised her head, Geon smiled warmly.

"You are worth much more than you think."

Hot tears rolled down Sujeong’s cheeks. No one had ever spoken such words to her before.

She had always been just another entertainer, and had been told she wouldn’t survive in the industry if she didn’t struggle to stay. Geon’s words hit her particularly hard.

Unable to say anything, tears burst forth like a waterfall, covering her face.

Yunjeong and Jinyeon approached and hugged her.

"Unnie..."

"Don’t cry, Unnie."

Sujeong, who couldn’t even meet the eyes of Yunjeong and Jinyeon, sobbed loudly. Geon, who had kept his mouth shut, stood up and said.

"I enjoyed our meeting today. Next time, let’s meet with smiles."

As Changhan Kim looked at the crying Sujeong, he quickly stood up and bowed again.

"Thank you for making time for this. I will consider your words again."

Geon smiled and extended his hand, and Changhan Kim took it. Although he wasn’t smiling like Geon, the hand he held felt somewhat relieving, and he relaxed his stern expression.

Byungjun, smiling lightly at the two, felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

"Hello?"

"Manager, it’s Li Weifeng from the stage art team!"

"Oh, what’s up? Any problems?"

"Well, I just arrived at Seoul City Hall Plaza to set up the stage for tomorrow!"

"And?"

"There’s a huge crowd gathering here right now! Reporters are here, and it's even on the news!"

"What?"

"Turn on the TV!"

"Alright, I’ll call back."

Byungjun looked at the TV in the room and then shouted towards the outside.

"Excuse me! Is this TV capable of receiving broadcasts?"

A staff member quickly turned on the TV, and Byungjun, flipping through the channels, was dumbfounded.

Unaware of Byungjun's phone conversation, the group had been quietly watching his actions since he turned on the TV, and their expressions turned to shock as they saw what was being broadcast.

The screen showed the City Hall Plaza filled with numerous tents. People who had rushed to the plaza late at night were setting up tents to secure a good spot, and the scene continued to be broadcasted with the excited announcer's commentary.

"Currently, the plaza in front of City Hall is overflowing with people due to the explosive statement made by Kevin Winston, the bassist of Kay, on Chea Eun's Music Academy at four o'clock this afternoon. There are now over 100,000 people gathered!"

The screen switched, and the announcer, standing in front of the area marked off with flags and ropes to prevent entry, continued with an excited expression.

"Here’s some more breaking news. Right now, people from Japan and China are flooding in through Incheon Airport! All flights from these two countries to Korea are sold out, and it is expected that the influx will continue until tomorrow afternoon.

There’s also news that flights from Southeast Asia and Russia are sold out, and it is expected that over 50,000 tourists will enter Korea by tomorrow!"

As more news came in, the reporter touched his earphone and constantly changed his expression.

"Another update, this one from the highways heading to Seoul. Let’s take a look at the screen!"

The screen switched to show the Gyeongbu, Jungbu, and Chuncheon highways, and the anxious reporter's shout followed.

"According to an announcement by the Korea Expressway Corporation just 10 minutes ago, it is taking ten hours from the Busan tollgate to the East Seoul tollgate. This is due to the audiences from the provinces moving to see Kay’s concert!

The Korea Expressway Corporation recommends using national roads through their highway traffic information phone service (comprehensive traffic information guide 1333, highway traffic information 1588-2504), the driver's smartphone app, and roadside electronic display boards (VMS), as traffic congestion is reaching levels seen during major holidays like Chuseok and Lunar New Year!"

As the continuous breaking news played, Yunjeong leaned towards Jinyeon and whispered softly.

"Weren’t they supposed to perform just one song tomorrow?"

Hearing Yunjeong’s words, Changhan Kim looked at Byungjun and asked.

"I had some expectations after hearing Kevin speak during the live broadcast, but this is beyond imagination. Are you really just performing one song tomorrow? With so many people coming, won’t the audience be upset?"

Byungjun, visibly frustrated, grabbed his head.

"Damn that Kevin!!!"

Geon, with a troubled expression, asked.

"Brother, what about Snep and Nemnem?"

"They’ll be arriving at Pyeongtaek Base tomorrow."

Changhan Kim, surprised, said.

"Really? They are coming?"

Byungjun put his finger to his lips as if it was a secret, and Changhan Kim nodded understandingly.

"Keep it a secret. We were planning to unveil the Song of the Earth tomorrow."

"Hehe, the audience who don’t know that Snep Dog and Nemnem are secretly visiting Korea will really enjoy it. But if you end it with just one song… it might feel a bit lacking. How about performing the Song of Fire or the Song of Wind as well?"

Byungjun shook his head.

"The stage

can’t accommodate a full band sound. I don’t know about the Song of Wind, but the Song of Fire is difficult. The choreography for the Song of Wind requires the use of the stage, so it’s hard to change it suddenly. Ugh, Geon, what should we do?"

Geon, indicating he also had no alternatives, shrugged his shoulders and then looked at Sujeong, who was beginning to stop her crying, and suddenly said.

"President... are there any YDN singers without schedules tomorrow?"

"Excuse me? What…"

"Could you possibly help us out?"

"I’ll help with whatever it is. Just let me know."

"Could you bring singers who are free tomorrow to perform before our show? It might help."

Surprised by Geon’s words, Changhan Kim hesitated before responding.

"That’s not really helping us; it’s more like we’re helping you… to open for Kay’s performance is something many would want but can’t do... Are you sure you’re asking us for help?"

"Let’s just say we’re the ones receiving help."

Changhan Kim bowed gratefully.

"I’ll prepare as best I can."

"Thank you, President. Oh, and please keep Snep and Nemnem’s visit a secret."

"Don’t worry, I’ll do my best with a grateful heart."

>

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