part 26

- If I spread this photo to the reporters, it would cause quite a stir, wouldn't it?

Boseong's voice reverberated. 

Night was quiet and breezy, so his voice was very distinguishable.

It was the same threatening message he had just delivered to Seung-rok. 

Seung-rok secretly recorded this sound through his phone moments ago. 

Boseong's lips trembled. 

The man who had prepared a photo to intimidate others was now clearly anxious. 

His lack of prudence was almost laughable. 

It made it impossible for him to properly orchestrate a scheme. 

"If you don't want this recording to reach the company, behave from now on." 

Boseong said, raising his voice.

"Recording someone without their consent is a crime, you lunatic!" 

Seung-rok sighed. 

"Look at you. What you did is not that legal. You're sitting there spouting nonsense."

He was mumbling about the very crimes he had committed.

To think that someone so unprepared would try to become a villain was beyond belief.

"Tch."

Boseong finally realized the gravity of his mistake. 

Seung-rok was usually meticulous. 

His flawless ethical record left no room for criticism.

Boseong had assumed he could easily blackmail Seung-rok. 

But he was wrong. 

K-pop Idols always faced scandals of this magnitude. 

If handled properly, those schemes blew over. 

Boseong himself had weathered worse. 

Even when photos of him entering a hotel with a woman surfaced, he managed to endure.

Fans got angry when their idols showed signs of adventurous sex life.

But Seung-rok's fans were already too steadfast to be swayed by such minor scandals. 

That was the only logical conclusion.

But to Boseong, it wasn't. 

He was the type to distort reality to suit his desires. 

He might believe he was creating an elaborate scheme, but in truth, he was digging his own grave.

Sensing victory, Seung-rok decided to deliver the final blow, his ace in the hole. 

"The solo track for the next Japanese album. It's yours." 

"What?" 

Boseong frowned, not comprehending. 

"You only care about Japan anyway, right? The solo track on the next Japanese album is yours." 

Boseong glared at him with distrust. 

"Do you think you're the chairman or something? The company revolves around you, but can you guarantee that?" 

"I'll talk to Eui-jin hyung. He usually listens when it comes to adding a track at the end of the album." 

Even Boseong couldn't find a flaw in Seung-rok's words. 

Silence hung between them for a moment. But Seung-rok knew Boseong well. 

Boseong was sly and insidious, but his ambitions weren't grand. 

A single track he could boast about to girls in Japan, would satisfy him. 

He couldn't refuse this offer. 

Pouting, Boseong brushed past Seung-rok and muttered, "…Keep your promise." 

He then disappeared into the recording studio. 

After Boseong left, Seung-rok sat on the bench outside the studio and drank another glass of sparkling water. 

What was the point of all this? 

Was he a singer, a businessman, a politician, or an actor? 

He couldn't tell anymore. 

He had to be wary of scandals involving anyone he met. 

He had to learn the relevant laws to protect himself from betrayal.

And he had to act like a chum to those who stabbed him in the back as long as they are in front of the camera. 

Why did he have to live this tightrope-walking life? 

How long would this continue? 

It felt overwhelming and futile. 

It was no different from being a kindergarten teacher, soothing children.

As he was lost in thought, Seung-rok naturally turned on my phone. 

Thinking of a kindergarten teacher made him think of 'her.' 

Notifications had piled up. 

Among them, one SNS alert caught his eye. 

Seung-rok logged into his secret Instagram account, the one he used to check other accounts, and went to Mina's profile. 

There were a bunch of photos from Hayeon's sixth birthday party. 

"Happy birthday, Hayeon! #UnniWentBigThisTime" 

Mina had given her a Phantom of the Opera LEGO set. 

Seeing Hayeon grinning with excitement, his sense of futility vanished in an instant.

Before he knew it, Seung-rok was smiling broadly. 

Thanks to Hayeon. 

Though his eyes kept drifting to Mina, who was smiling just as brightly beside the child. 

No. 

That's not it. 

This is all because of his daughter. 

Probably. 

It must be.

***

Not long after, The ZERO's new album was released. 

It received the hottest response in their seven years of activity. 

Recently, many K-pop idol groups have been active all year round without separate rest and activity periods. 

They tour the world and release at least two or three albums a year, leaving little time to rest. 

But The ZERO was different. 

This team pursued the identity as a 'band'.

Their stance was that they would at least play their instruments themselves. 

Even the drummer, Kim Tae-sang, who took charge of arranging with composer Eui-jin, was part of the harmony group where everyone sang.

Since music was the core identity of the group, they were more meticulous in their album work. 

Perhaps that was why The ZERO's albums were known for their exceptional quality. 

The newly released 6th mini-album was no exception. 

It wasn't lacking in popularity either. 

As soon as it was released, it swept the charts not only in Korea but also in Japan and Europe. 

Their schedule was packed. 

First, they handled the music cable channels in Korea. 

Then, the live performance broadcast they had recorded was uploaded to their official YouTube channel. 

After that, they started fan meetings and concerts across Korea and throughout Asia.

But then, at that very moment, surprising news came from home.

"Teacher is missing!"

Suddenly, Mina had disappeared. 

All her belongings were left behind at home.

But since she didn't bring much with her, it wasn't very noticeable. 

Unlike Hayeon, who was fretting about what to do without the teacher, or Grandpa, who was worried that an accident might have happened, Seung-rok remained calm. 

In fact, he felt a slight sense of relief.

A thought lingered in a corner of his mind. 

Perhaps it would be better for Hayeon to quit golf lessons altogether. 

By now, Seung-rok had started to see Hayeon's aptitudes and preferences, thanks to Mina's insights about her. 

This child had no interest in golf. 

Maybe it would be better for Hayeon's happiness to quit these lessons. 

Although it pained him to have paid for a year's worth of lessons, honestly, money wasn't important to him.

But… that wasn't all. 

A corner of Seung-rok's heart ached. 

Just a little.

Why was that? 

Was it because he felt sorry that Hayeon might not be able to fulfill her mother's dream? 

Or… could it be… that he regretted not being able to see Mina anymore? 

Suppressing the various thoughts swirling in his mind, he continued with the album activities.

Then, just as the fan meeting ended, Seung-rok received a belated call from the child.

"Mina teacher is late! But she still came!"

It turned out that Mina had gone downtown to buy The ZERO's album.

She got stuck there. 

She hadn't expected such a crowd at the bookstore selling the CD. 

Eventually, she found herself trapped in the throng, unable to move. 

The noise was so overwhelming that she couldn't even answer her phone.

After waiting for over an hour, she finally managed to buy the CD and head back. 

By the time she navigated through traffic jams, rare even for Jeju Island, and arrived at the golf course, she was already more than an hour late for the lesson.

Leaving behind Hayeon's voice repeating 'Thanks God' like a mantra, Seung-rok gave a bitter smile.

In the end, Hayeon had to continue with golf, something she didn't even like. 

Was this something to be happy about? 

Yet, in a corner of his heart, he felt his pulse quicken again.

***

That weekend, Seung-rok made a point of stopping by Jeju Island.

Despite being incredibly busy with the Australian concert schedule, he felt he had to visit home, just for a short while. 

On Friday evening, returning from Osaka, he ran into me. 

It felt as if he had come to his house specifically to punish me. 

But I couldn't retort, as it was clearly my fault.

"You were late for the lesson yesterday."

"I'm sorry…."

I mumbled, my voice barely audible.

"The child was waiting."

Seung-rok spoke curtly, then stared at me.

After a brief pause, he added, "Honestly, I don't understand."

"What don't you understand?"

"I have a mountain of CDs. If you had just asked, I could have given you one with all the members' signatures."

He was questioning why I had gone downtown. 

But in truth, I didn't need the album.

"I wanted to buy it myself."

"Why?"

I explained that I wanted to see the 'scene' where fans gathered to buy The ZERO's album.

"I wanted to see the fans buying The ZERO's album in person. I didn't expect the city to be so chaotic. I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."

"Being late can happen. Life is full of unpredictable variables. But please, answer your phone. If you just answer your phone, it's no big deal."

"Yes. I'll make sure to keep the sound on from now on."

I nodded as I spoke.

Seung-rok stared at me silently for a moment, then suddenly stood up.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I've met the teacher and the child, so I need to leave now. I have a schedule in Australia tomorrow afternoon."

If he was so busy, why did he come all the way here? 

You did not even see your own daughter!

In fact, Seung-rok didn't seem to have any intention of looking for or waking Hayeon. 

Instead, he silently took out his phone, probably to call manager Cha. 

I stopped him.

"I'll drive you. It's the least I can do for being late."

Seung-rok looked at me quietly and then said just one word.

"Alright."

As soon as he got into my car, he stared straight ahead without saying a word. 

He was usually quiet, but this silence felt awkward. 

Maybe he was still angry.

"…What's wrong?"

I broke the silence, trying to lighten the mood.

"I noticed a scratch on the side."

He was good.

I shrank my shoulders like a child caught hiding a report card.

"I was in a hurry because I was late for the lesson… I scratched it while speeding."

"…"

"I'm sorry. I was careless."

"Get money from the manager."

"What?"

"You scratched it while coming for the lesson, so it's a work-related injury. Get it fixed. Tell manager Cha, and he'll reimburse you."

"Oh, okay…"

A slight smile appeared on my lips. 

It was a consideration I wouldn't expect from his usual self.

I thought he was angry because he wasn't talking, but maybe that wasn't it. 

This man was impossible to figure out.

On the way to the airport, Seung-rok suddenly asked me who was driving.

"By the way, Hayeon said she's preparing for a school play. What's that about?"

"Oh, that…"

I swallowed dryly without realizing it. 

I remembered Hayeon's warning.