part 23

"Did you bring it, Dad?" 

Hayeon asked.

Her large eyes were blinking at Seung-rok.

Whenever the child looked at him with such an innocent expression, Seung-rok found himself at a loss for words. 

He knew it was all a ploy.

But he couldn't help but give in.

"Yes," he replied, handing over the DVD to Hayeon.

Hayeon's expression changed instantly. 

Seung-rok watched quietly as the child jumped up and down with joy.

"Yay!"

Hayeon ran over to the TV screen. 

Somehow, she managed to play the DVD without any help. 

She had learned such things effortlessly.

Soon, Hayeon was completely absorbed in the play on the screen. 

Watching her, Seung-rok realized that Mina had been right. 

Hayeon wasn't particularly interested in golf. 

She did just enough to get by. 

She put all her energy into taking photos and buying clothes, but that was it. 

Her interest in theater seemed much more genuine than that of golf.

Comparing her interest in theater to her lukewarm enthusiasm for golf, it became clear that her passion for golf wasn't strong. 

So, did she want to be an idol like her father? 

After all, a K-pop star was a kind of actor, captivating people on stage. 

In a way, K-pop singer might be the greatest actors in the world, having to perform their lives entirely.

Who would have thought the child would show an interest in acting?

All this time, Seung-rok had believed Hayeon was just like her mother. 

She looked like her mother.

And her bright, straightforward personality seemed a mirror image of her mother's also. 

But now, seeing Hayeon engrossed in the DVD, Seung-rok realized she was more like him than he had ever noticed. 

Why hadn't he seen it before?

Another question lingered in his mind. 

How had Mina managed to understand his daughter more deeply than he did in just a week? 

It made him a bit jealous.

He was angry at himself a little bit too. 

Feeling a quiet surge of irritation, Seung-rok spoke softly.

"Hayeon."

"Why, why?" 

The child looked slightly scared, sensing the hint of anger in his voice. 

Her sensitivity to such nuances was remarkable.

"Do you dislike golf?"

Hayeon's pupils trembled with confusion. 

"Why, why?"

"Your teacher said you seem to like something else more than golf."

The child didn't respond.

"Do you want to quit golf?"

Hayeon stared blankly at Seung-rok for a moment before speaking hesitantly. 

"What about the teacher?"

"I'll tell her not to come anymore."

Of course, that wasn't going to happen. 

He had already paid Mina a year's salary in advance. 

Besides, he had no intention of letting Hayeon quit golf. 

He just wanted to test her.

But Hayeon's reaction was unexpected. 

She pouted and suddenly raised her voice. 

"I don't know. I'll keep doing it!"

Then she turned her head abruptly and focused on the screen again, as if to end the conversation. 

In moments like these, she seemed more like an adult than a child.

Honestly, Seung-rok didn't like golf either. 

But Hayeon had to play. 

Golf was her mother's dream.

So that was something he couldn't give up. 

Besides, hadn't Hayeon enjoyed it too? 

So why did she change all of a sudden?

Seung-rok closed his eyes, lost in thought.

"…"

Hayeon, who had been watching her father from behind, suddenly asked. 

"Dad, aren't you going to watch with me?"

Seung-rok chuckled softly. 

Just a moment ago, she didn't want to talk to him.

And now she was approaching him again. 

This was nothing new. 

His daughter was truly a little trickster, as cunning as a cat.

"Dad's already seen it. I had to check if it was okay for you to watch."

"Ugh, bo~ring!" 

Hayeon immediately turned her head away.

Watching his daughter turn her back on him, Seung-rok started daydreaming

In truth, he hadn't watched the DVD alone. 

He had watched it with Mina. 

Looking back, he wondered why he had felt the need to do that. 

He could have easily watched it alone. 

But for some reason, he wanted to watch it with her. 

So he had invited Mina to his private theater, even going to the trouble of clearing the usual screening schedule.

Seung-rok didn't know why he had done it. 

Was he pushing it because he thought it was an extension of the golf coach's duties? 

Honestly, that was just an excuse. 

The truth was, he simply wanted to watch a movie with her. 

And she had come, which was shocking.

She was a golf coach, not a nanny. 

She could have easily refused, but she had come and watched the DVD with him.

She was even falling asleep.

Why?

As he thought about Mina, Seung-rok suddenly felt foolish. 

He let out a small laugh. 

What are you doing, Kang Seung-rok? 

Are you trying to start a romance now? 

You're a K-pop idol. 

The moment he found out Hayeon was born, and the day he learned her mother was no longer in this world, he had given up on romance for good.

"Dad."

Hayeon's voice snapped him out of his reverie.

"Yes, Hayeon?"

"This is too scary."

Her finger pointed at the screen. 

It was the scene from "Hamlet" where the ghost of the father appears. 

Indeed, it was quite a frightening scene for a child.

"Shall we watch it together?"

"Yes!"

Hayeon tightly grasped Seung-rok's hand. 

Feeling the warmth of her hand, a smile crept onto his face. 

Walking with Hayeon, Seung-rok thought.

This is it. 

This is enough. 

This was the maximum happiness life had granted him.

***

The next day, Seung-rok attended a meeting at the TYB headquarters conference room.

It was about the new album of his group, The ZERO. 

The meeting was dragging on longer than usual. 

Perhaps it was because all the staff, including the members of The ZERO and even the chairman of the label, were present. 

The discussion was not wrapping up easily. 

After all, they were deciding on the title track and the core concept of the new album, which required a lot of thought.

There were many important decisions to be made.

As always, instead of intense rock, a more mainstream and soft pop song infused with jazz, yacht rock and R&B was chosen as the title track. 

With that, the meeting wrapped up. 

However, even after the meeting ended, Chairman Chun did not leave his seat. 

He suddenly spoke up.

"Seung-rok, stay behind for a moment after the meeting."

All eyes from The ZERO members turned to Chairman Chun. 

Among them, the lead vocalist, Boseong, visibly flushed. 

He was the same age as Seung-rok and considered himself higher in the company hierarchy than Seung-rok, who had been hastily recruited last. 

Boseong had trained at the company for five years, which made him feel superior.

In the early days after The ZERO's debut, Boseong had more parts than KROCK. 

But as their activities continued, the balance shifted. 

Over the years, KROCK's vocals improved.

The gap between him and the other members widened. 

Now, when people think of The ZERO, they think of Seung-rok's voice. 

Even now, the chairman was bypassing Boseong, the most senior member, and directly calling out Seung-rok. 

Boseong found the situation very irritating.

"We'll stay and listen too," he said stubbornly, plopping back into his seat.

Chairman Chun didn't respond. 

Instead, he continued to gaze at Seung-rok.

As if to say others could listen if they wanted to.

"Let's start working on your solo album."

"What…?"

"Oh boy."

The other members exchanged glances, clearly taken aback. 

But Seung-rok, the one at the center of this bombshell, seemed indifferent. 

He stared blankly into space, showing no reaction.

In truth, Seung-rok had no interest in a solo album. 

He knew what kind of album a major agency would produce. 

It wouldn't be the music he loved. 

Sure, he could sing alone, but that was it. 

They would bring in music that had already proven successful in the market.

Music that held no appeal for him.

Instead, his mind wandered back to the "Hamlet" performance he had watched with his daughter the previous night. 

The image of the prince tormented by a ghost. 

He felt a kinship with that prince, wondering if he too was haunted by the ghost of his deceased wife.

After all, what else could he do? 

A man with a child.

A K-pop idol no less.

He couldn't afford to entertain romances. 

He was in no position to get close to anyone. 

His job was to fulfill the desires of his fans and the company. 

False hopes were dangerous.

Perhaps that was why Seung-rok stood out among the other members. 

Sure, his singing skills were superior, and his looks were more striking. 

But that wasn't all. 

He dedicated all his time to his fans. 

Even Boseong, who envied him, craved the fans' love but was lazy. 

He spent so much time meeting women that he often neglected his singing practice. 

Recently, Boseong had been caught by a tabloid journalist with a Japanese model at a hotel, causing a scandal. 

If the agency hadn't covered it up, it could have been much worse.

In contrast, Seung-rok devoted his entire life to his fans. 

It was no wonder he was the most successful. 

But that was not how Boseong saw the situation.

Boseong believed Seung-rok was simply lucky.

As Seung-rok kept silent, Boseong pouted his lips.

"He doesn't seem to want to do it. He's lazy. I'm always hungry for more, so just release my album instead."

Chairman Cheon said nothing. 

He didn't even glance at him. 

Instead, the manager, unable to bear it any longer, stepped in to mediate.

"Come on, Boseong, you're about to start a musical. You don't have time for anything else. The chairman is looking out for you."

Boseong, without responding to the manager, stared quietly at Seung-rok. 

In a K-pop group, members call each other colleagues. 

But, knowingly or unknowingly, a hierarchy exists. 

From who gets the important parts to who dyes their hair the most noticeable color, everything is determined by internal rankings measured by popularity and influence.

If Seung-rok had been ahead of Boseong from the beginning, he might not get angry. 

But Seung-rok was clearly lower in rank when they debuted. 

Over time, as each album was released, Seung-rok's prominence grew. 

It was unbearable. 

Now, KROCK's main vocalist, Seung-rok, stood in the center of the stage with his unique blonde hair while everyone else had black hair. 

Even in the last album, Seung-rok was the only one given a solo song, showing the company's favoritism. 

It was unfair.

The silence in the room was broken by the chairman.

"There's no need to lie. Just state the truth."

The atmosphere in the room turned cold again. 

Regardless, Chairman Cheon continued, looking at Seung-rok with a meaningful gaze.

"This is a business venture, not a social club. We prioritize profit over sentiment. KROCK represents our most reliable investment, and releasing his solo album first is a strategic decision. Once we've recouped our initial investment through his success, we can gradually introduce the other members' albums."

Saying this, Chairman Cheon looked at Seung-rok with satisfaction. 

Boseong's face, however, was contorted with anger.