Those who stab you in the back (7)

It was an unpleasantly refreshing morning.

Normally, I would just put on whatever, but today, I spent some time in front of my closet. A suit and tie were too aggressive while a t-shirt would be too lax. Taking the middle ground, I wore slacks and a blue dress shirt and went outside.

It was ten minutes before eleven.

After checking my watch, I opened Neptune's door and entered.

The entrance was empty. I heard Lee Songha's voice coming from the kitchen, rather than her usual 'Welcome' at the entrance. All I saw in the living room was a fruit basket that was so big it was burdensome. Im Seoyoung, LJ, and Lee Taehee were all gathered in the kitchen.

I was wondering what they were preoccupied with for them to not even notice someone come in and found that they had a guest.

"Why are there so many Western spices in this tiny fridge? Do you really cook that often?"

A middle-aged woman asked with her head in the fridge.

Im Seoyoung gathered her hands in a polite manner and replied,

"No, those spices are from LJ's parents."

"Really? Oh my, and you have a variety of kimchi? Do you buy them from the store?"

"Uh, my mom sent us those not too long ago."

"Ah… Is that so? Then are all these side dishes from your mother?"

"Those were from Taehee unni's family. There are some Sunwoo oppa brought as well."

The middle-aged woman, Lee Songha's mother, closed the fridge. An awkward flashed on her face, which wasn't very similar to Lee Songha's.

"The other mothers are working hard."

"Hello, you've come early."

I went over and greeted her. Lee Songha, who had been sitting at the table, jolted up. The girls, who looked like their living habits were being examined, suddenly brightened. At the same time, Lee Songha's mother brushed her short hair over her ear and smiled at me.

"Oh, our Chief Jung has been getting more and more handsome. I heard that you're getting another promotion? Your parents must be full without eating when they have a son who's so good at working and is famous."

"If that's the case, then you must be full forever with a daughter like Lee Songha."

"Ah, is that how it is? It's still surreal to me that she's a celebrity."

Her tone was wrapped in refinement. Her hair was tidy with no stray strands as though she had just been to a hair salon. Her pearl earrings the size of a thumb caught my attention. She wore an elegant two-piece outfit without a single wrinkle. She truly looked like she was ready for battle.

"I need to check up on her more frequently, but I was so busy. I was busy sending my second daughter to study overseas last year. The year before that, I was busy with my fourth's college admission. And this year, my first graduated Hyemun Women's University. I was so busy with her job search…"{1}

"Mom."

Lee Songha cut her off.

"Let's go to my room."

"This child, I'm talking."

"Unnis are busy since they have to get ready for their schedules. Let's go in."

Her voice was chilly. However, Lee Songha's mother acted like she didn't notice anything as she said goodbye to each member before finally going in Lee Songha's room. The girls let out a sigh and flopped on the sofa.

Im Seoyoung grabbed my shirt sleeve.

"Oppa, what is this all of a sudden? What did she come here to say? Is something going on?"

"What do you mean? She just came to see Songha. Your parents come often too."

The girls narrowed their eyes as if telling me not to lie. The girls particularly had difficulty with Lee Songha's mother even though they didn't know that she brought up having Lee Songha quit Neptune in the past.

With their gazes behind me, I prepared three glasses of ginger tea and went to Lee Songha's room.

The mother and daughter were talking as they sat on the rug below the bed.

"You should have told me if the other mothers sent over side dishes and kimchi."

"Why?"

"If I knew, I would have sent something too."

"It's fine."

To be exact, it was Lee Songha's mother who was talking while Lee Songha wasn't really paying attention.

"Why are you so indifferent? Just because I was preoccupied doesn't mean you should be freeloading. People must have thought ill of me, thinking I don't care about you after sending you off. What do the other girls like? Should I make braised short-ribs?"

"I told you it's fine. We usually eat out. We can't finish what we already have."

"Even if you throw it out, I should at least do something."

Lee Songha let out a laugh that was like a sigh. She glanced at me before her gaze dropped to the floor.

I placed the tray down between them.

"Please have some tea."

"Oh, thank you. Chief Jung, you're living by yourself too, right? Should I send you some braised short-ribs?"

"I'm fine, thank you. It's been a long time since I've eaten at home."

"You need to get married. Aren't there any good women around you? Wait. I have four daughters at home, and I think there's only a four-year difference between you and my first."

"It's five years."

Lee Songha put her cup down. Her expression was chilly.

"If you came to talk about me, talk about me. Stop bringing up my sisters."

"Okay, okay. You still act like a child at twenty-two."

I looked at them while rubbing my teacup. I had seen the girls' family countless times during my two years managing Neptune, but Lee Songha's family was particularly complicated. They weren't the normally intense type and looking from a distance, they looked like a peaceful family.

However, you could sense disharmony with every step you approached.

Before Lee Songha could become even chillier, I went to the point.

"I heard that you had something you wanted to speak to me about."

"Ah, about Songha's next project. Has it been decided?"

This was fine.

As a parent leaving their child in someone else's care, it was normal for them to be curious about their future plans.

"We are constantly looking over it. There are just so many projects. We need to pay special care to select one that is most suitable for Songha."

"I heard that it's not good for them to take too long of a break."

"That's for celebrities who take one or two-year breaks. It hasn't been that long since Royal Family ended, and the character, Lee Sohee, is still well-received. There's no need to hastily pick a project. Rather, viewers might mix her characters if she does another project too quickly."

Lee Songha's mother nodded seriously as she listened to me. Lee Songha propped her chin on her arm, which was on her knee, as she observed her mother. Soon, Lee Songha's mother cautious said,

"Could I see some of the proposals or scenarios that came in?"

This was fine too.

To be honest, there were many parents who looked over their child's projects beforehand. There were many cases where an actress's family opposed a project because there were too many revealing scenes. Although they didn't give professional advice, there were many cases where their family's support gave the celebrity confidence.

"Why do you suddenly want to look at them?"

Lee Songha abruptly asked.

"It's not all of a sudden. I wanted to see them before. I was worried that people might think I was getting overly involved if I asked. But I heard that other actors' mothers also look through scenarios. Some even discuss with managers before they pick a project. Isn't that right?"

When an actor was a rookie or unknown, the company held more sway. Many actors and their families tended to wholeheartedly accept the company's decision as well.

However, the voices of top actors held more sway when picking a project. While a lot did leave the decision to their managers, many also one-sidedly decided on a project as well. During this process, their families also tended to have more influence on their decision.

Then a conflict could break out between the manager and the actor's family.

If one side was dumb or crazy, then it would break out into a fight.

"… There are cases like that. It is also common to trust the company and leave the decision to them. Still, I hope that you could trust my decision. I am a little worried since there have been cases where people quarrel over the decision."

I said with a smile. I was very accustomed to putting on an innocent air by now.

"Oh, no, it's not like I don't trust you to make a good decision!"

Lee Songha's mother quickly waved her hands.

"I would trust you if you said you could make fermented soybeans from red beans. All the projects you selected for Songha until now were great successes. Also, I won't do something like one-sidedly pushing for my pick and ignoring yours. That would be foolish."

"That's a relief."

"Just, as her mother, I was wondering how much choice she has…"

"Oppa's opinion is top priority. They said that too many cooks spoil the broth."

Lee Songha cut her off.

Her mother leered at her with an embarrassed expression.

"I know that too. Do you think I'm not thinking of what's best for you?"

She then looked back at me.

"Chief, I simply feel like I haven't paid enough attention to her. I heard that there are mothers who go to shoots and greet the directors. I feel like that's too extreme. Would looking at the projects be okay?"

"Of course, that's fine."

It was fine.

But if she was doing this because the Team 2 Leader incited her to, then it wasn't fine.

"It seems like you've spoken a lot with our Team 2 Leader."

"Ah, that's."

Lee Songha's mother waved her hand, seemingly taken aback.

"I wasn't the one who called to ask him questions. He called to ask how we were doing, and after a few greetings, our conversation grew longer. He also answered a lot of my questions…"

"If you have questions, ask me. Don't ask some random person."

Lee Songha frowned.

Her mother made an even more embarrassed expression as she said,

"How is a team leader at your company some random person?"

"We're just being a little cautious."

I said while acting like we were in a predicament.

"Although we are in the same company, we are in different teams. Because they also have actresses, there's also a sense of competition between our teams. It's best for people as successful as Songha and her parents to be cautious. A simple exchange could end up as a malicious rumor. Rumors regarding a celebrity's family tend to last longer as well."

"Oh, my."

Lee Songha's mother's expression changed drastically. She was so nervous that she couldn't sit still and was busy recalling her conversation with the Team 2 Leader to make sure she didn't slip up. My eyes momentarily met Lee Songha's before I drank the slightly cooled ginger tea.

Anyways, there was no doubt that a rock was thrown into the calm lake.

I began to make plans within my cold mind.

*

"The Team 2 Leader's inside, right?"

"Uh, yes. He is. He's in the middle of a call so-"

The Team 2 Leader, who was in the middle of a call like the employee said, was surprised when he saw me. I looked around the office before sitting down on the sofa across from him. The Team 2 Leader frowned. I waved, gesturing him to continue his call, before looking at the stuff laid out on the table.

It was full of screening tickets, pamphlets, and posters for VIPs.

'Love Again'

It was Song Inho's debut movie that I had seen last night.

"Ah, an unwelcome guest has arrived. Hope you can help us out with the magazine review."

Although he called me an unwelcome guest, his eyes brightened like he was seeing Santa Claus. I couldn't tell if it was because he thought he had effectively screwed me over or if it was because Song Inho's debut movie was well-received. His smile hung on his ears.

The Team 2 Leader quickly hung up.

"You bastard, you just barge in without knocking now? Do you not have any manners?"

"I heard you called Songha's mother. That too isn't really good manners either."

I replied while picking up a poster and looking at Song Inho's face.

I heard him chuckle.

"You know that Inho's debut movie has been released, right?"

"I saw it yesterday."

"Really?"

I didn't know what he was thinking, but his smile thickened.

"You acted like you didn't care, but it seemed it did bother you? To watch it as soon as it was out. Did the PR Team get tickets for you? If you told me, I could have given you good seats."

He took his feet off his desk and approached me.

Then he sat next to me and grabbed a VIP ticket.

"I just happened to have some tickets remaining and was gifting them to our actors' families. This was why I called Songha's mother. Isn't this what family should do?"

Ah, family?

"If it was something like this, you should have given them to me. Why did you personally call her?"

"You're busy these days. I just called her as I was calling others."

When I acted like I was upset, the Team 2 Leader's voice became even brighter.

He crossed his legs and asked,

"Do you know that Lee Songha's oldest sister graduated from Hyemun University? Her second oldest sister is a promising art student, and her younger sister might even become a national athlete. All her children excelled in their prospective fields. Though I don't know their personalities."

"Are you bringing in Songha's family just to try to screw me over?"

"What are you saying? All I did was give them a gift."

The Team 2 Leader shrugged. He was obviously looking down on me.

He looked confident that a rookie like me wouldn't be his match no matter how hard I worked.

"Why? Are you upset?"

"Then would I be happy?"

"Stop bothering me and my celebrities and focus on your work."

"I believe I clearly explained the matter with Mr. Seo Jijoon. I understand why your nickname is 'Mother-in-Law'. It feels like I'm being pestered by my mother-in-law even though I'm not married.{2}"

His cheek wriggled. He shot his sinister gaze at me.

"You shouldn't have done something you need to explain from the start. This industry is sensitive to stuff like that. It's common for people to try to backstab you. So use this chance to learn. Well, if you really are upset, you can go complain to the CEO."

He said with a smirk.

"Though, I don't know if there's anything to complain about. I'm telling you this in case you're mistaken from only seeing the CEO's calm demeanor, but the CEO isn't the type to act on such small complaints."

"I don't plan on complaining. I also know a little about CEO Baek Hansung's methods."

I knew that he was the type of person would reward you appropriately if you did your job.

Also, I knew that he was the type to keep the promises he made.

I got up and said,

"Mr. Song Inho's movie, I hope it does well."

"Are you being sincere?"

The Team 2 Leader snorted. I picked up one of Song Inho's movie pamphlets.

"Of course, we all family here."

I left the Team 2 Leader's office and went up to the lounge. Among the people there, I approached Blackout's chief, who had previously handed me a manager's business card.

"Oh, did you eat something?"

"Pardon?"

"Your dark circles are all gone? You look better too. Did the Team 3 Leader get you something nice? Carp? Loaches?"

"I don't know. A snake, I guess?"

Blackout's chief retreated in panic. Smiling, I entered the office. Then I said to Kim Hyunjo, who had his head on his desk,

"Chief, I'll be out this afternoon."

"Why? Do you have a meeting?"

"No, I'm going to meet Son Chaeyoung."

Kim Hyunjo's expression became lukewarm.

"Hey, don't you think it's time you give up on Son Chaeyoung's next project? Weren't you planning on just acting like you were working on it since it was the CEO's request?"

"I was."

That was why I didn't actively meet her after being told to screw off last time.

Although I was tempted by CEO Baek Hansung's proposal, I didn't want to earn by hanging onto Son Chaeyoung of all people. I had thought that I could make my team with my own hands even if it took a little longer.

"My thoughts have changed."

"What?"

I really needed that reward now.

I folded Song Inho's pamphlet and put in my pocket before turning around.

Let's try a method suitable for me this time.

{1} Helicopter parents are quite common in Korea.

{2} The whole 'mother-in-law' trope usually involves a mean mother-in-law and her son's wife.