42. Gift (3)

42. Gift (3)

Originally, I was going to quietly let the incident pass, like Director Kwak In-hyuk said. However, after hearing the past from Team Leader Lee Ki-ho and trying to piece together the whole story, my thoughts changed.

'If we leave it alone, it'll get worse.'

So I thought.

Since we're going to burst the accumulated pus, let's do it for sure.

Here, I ignored the system message. I didn't want to use something that I couldn't identify, and the wording and timing themselves were uncomfortable.

'Am I going to delete a person all of a sudden? This isn't some kind of game.'

I couldn't rely on something that I didn't know would have side effects. So I pressed No, but there was no response, so I just ignored it.

After making the decision, I acted quickly. I asked for Lee A-ram's opinion, asked Ji Young-heon for the necessary information, and found out what I could find out myself.

'The agency will definitely want to let it go quietly, so I need to gather a lot of useful pieces before the meeting.'

So the first thing I noticed was B ssi's community post. Even if the account has already been deleted, once it has been posted on the internet, traces are bound to remain.

Based on B ssi's community ID, I continued my investigation and soon found the group B ssi had previously been a fan of.

'That's when I found the connection between A and B.'

The group A had been following, as I had heard from Ji Youngheon before, was the same group B had previously been a fan of.

Based on B's behavior toward Aram, she seemed to be the type who was obsessed with her target and felt satisfaction when the other person was suffering.

There's no way someone like that would have liked the group properly she had previously liked. Considering that there are cases where sasaengs interact, it was highly likely that they knew each other.

'For the rest... I got a little help from Team Leader Lee Kiho.'

Team Leader Lee Kiho shrugged his shoulders, saying that he had done his best, but he must have still felt a little guilty, so he readily offered a helping hand.

Someone who had been in the industry for a long time and was good at handling things, even them preventing him from leaving his previous job, must have connections.

Thanks to that, I was able to get some information about Sasaeng from an acquaintance of Team Leader Lee Ki-ho, who was from the group's agency. As a bonus, I also received evidence materials that had been collected while he was at Lime.

...... Well, let's stop explaining the background of the information here. The problem is what comes next. Now was the time to persuade Director Kwak In-hyuk and everyone else here.

"Yes, so I'm going to work on separating sasaengs and fans."

Everyone looked like they were wondering what I was talking about. I took a sip of coffee and said,.

"Aren't our fans being cursed online because of the last incident? Let's use that."

"So what are you going to do about that?....."

The person who responded to my words was the head of the press and public relations team. He blinked and pushed up his glasses.

That guy could hear the sound of his head spinning all the way here.

"It's simple. We'll report the damage caused by sasaengs."

"That might actually cause a bad reaction. We're bringing up something that could have been quietly overlooked. It'll be perceived as fan sniping, and the attention will be focused on us."

"That's when we report this incident."

"What the...."

When the head of the press and public relations team trailed off, CEO Son Dong-young laughed. That guy seemed to find this situation amusing. No, did you just like what I said?

"So, PD-nim, what you're saying is... let's just float the topic of sasaengs to the surface, right?"

"Yes, these days, the internet is so well-developed that people are somewhat aware of sasaengs. So this time, let's clearly categorize it as an 'industry issue.'"

"Let's just divide fans and sasaengs like that and slap a notice of lawsuit?"

"Then the backlash will decrease."

"The fans will welcome it. They will be filled with resentment, so if we just try to manipulate public opinion a little, they will follow."

No matter how much the fans complained about their resentment, there were almost no people who would listen. That's why they must have been holding on for so long, but if the keyword 'sasaeng' was thrown out, they would naturally try to turn their arrows in that direction.

Furthermore, the sasaeng issue was something that other group fandoms could sympathize with.

In a word, it's taking sides.

'In fact, this work is the most important.'

The public doesn't distinguish between fans and sasaengs. Most people perceive sasaengs, who are stalkers, as extreme fans.

In this situation, you might think, "What's the point of dividing the two?" but there's a big difference between knowing that the two groups are different and not knowing.

'As a bonus, we should make it clear that sasaengs are not our problem.'

So we need to make them think, 'It's not just Intro that's weird.' Even if we proceed with the lawsuit later, it reminds that the problem is not the fans but the sasaengs.

"Instead, we need to choose our press releases and reporters carefully. If we don't do it right, we'll probably get screwed."

"That's right. The key is to not reveal that it's an article we induced. It wouldn't be bad to list cases with other agencies. Also, we have to make sure that this dormitory incident doesn't get leaked. We have to be vague when posting a notice of lawsuit on our official account."

If we didn't write the details in detail and left it as is, people might think that we just posted a notice to scare them by riding the wave of the sasaeng controversy.

The car incident will be known anyway, so it doesn't matter, but we can naturally proceed with the lawsuit while leaving the dormitory incident buried.

"Do you have any agencies in mind to list cases?"

"I'm thinking of a certain group agency related to A ssi, and MH Entertainment, which has suffered serious sasaeng damage. If possible, I'll list Lime as well."

"Um... I think no one will help."

Yes. As he said, for this plan to succeed, it was necessary for other agencies to cooperate.

But that wasn't really a problem. It wasn't a complacent thought like 'they'll help me out'.

"Then let's blow up a few corruption-related issues. Let's see, the visual member of that group was doing drugs... If they want to get dragged out along with the people involved, would they refuse?"

"Where did you get that information......."

"Well, it doesn't matter if they refuse. If that kind of article breaks out, they'll get more attention than us."

There's an idol who's been in my head for countless times. I don't know about the ones who didn't debut in previous lifetimes like Lee A-ram, but I knew most of the rumors and issues of those who had already established themselves to some extent.

Even if they regress, those who will change will change, and those who are the same will stay the same.

'If you throw a little bit of gunpowder, the reporters will figure out the rest.'

A cold wind blew through the conference room.

I don't want to use that method either, but if I don't speak up like this, my opinion won't be accepted even here.

"Is there anyone who's against it?"

"It looks like we'll cause trouble even if we're against it, okay? Do as you wish."

No one raised an objection when Director Kwak In-hyuk raised both hands with a face that seemed to suppress his irritation.

CEO Son Dong-young applauded with satisfaction, and the others seemed to be taken aback.

"I will hand over the data, so after contacting the other agency, have the press and public relations team write a press release. Once the reporter selection is complete, you can have me and the CEO review it and proceed."

"Then should we report this to the police and prepare for the lawsuit?"

The legal team, which had been quietly listening to the conversation until then, cautiously raised their hands.

I nodded and then added.

"Yes. Oh, by the way, this isn't B's first offense. She's been sued for stalking someone else before. Please take note."

"Understood."

I said that I was just asking for them to take note, but I meant to make sure it was dealt with. The legal team nodded, gathered their documents, and hurried out of the conference room. There must be a mountain of work to do. As even the head of the press and public relations team left one after another, only awkwardness remained in the conference room.

The head of the management team leaned back in her chair, touching her forehead. That head of the team's name must be.......

"Team Leader Bae Hye-rim, do you have anything to say?"

"...No. No, actually, there are many things I want to say, but I don't want to."

The management team must be very busy when something like this happens, so that's why they do that.

Contrary to the public perception that they follow celebrities around and do odd jobs, the management team was doing more than expected. Because it is in charge of overall artist care and protection, such as schedule management and progress.

'Our label is not that big to begin with...The management team is particularly short on people.'

But it was also ambiguous to just hire any employee and supplement them. There is no time to train new employees.

Team Leader Bae Hye-rim flinched when I stared at her. She straightened her posture and rubbed her eyes.

"Please forget what I just said. I'm going to go to work soon."

"Just a moment."

When I called Team Leader Bae Hye-rim, everyone's eyes turned to me. This time, they were asking if there was anything else.

I accepted the gaze calmly and said,.

"Do you know Team Leader Lee Ki-ho?"

"Yes? That... Team Leader Lee from Lime Rookie Development Headquarters?"

"Yes. That's right."

Team Leader Bae Hye-rim wasn't the only one who reacted to the name Team Leader Lee Ki-ho.

CEO Son Dong-young looked at me with wide eyes, and Director Kwak In-hyuk frowned.

Anyway, it seems like everyone knows him.

"We're planning to bring Team Leader Lee Ki-ho to our management team. What do you think?"

"Yes?! Oh, how? Team Leader Lee is famous. The management team will absolutely, vehemently, reject it."

"So you don't like it?"

Team Leader Bae Hye-rim shuddered and opened her mouth wide. Her eyes filled with madness. A voice similar to a scream echoed through the conference room.

"You're saying that now?! Of course I'd like it! Talented people are always welcome!"

"Ah.... Thank goodness. Since Team Leader Lee has more experience than Team Leader Bae, I was worried that you might feel uncomfortable as a boss."

"Oh my god, don't worry about that! Does pride feed you?! First, I have to survive this hellish work! If he really comes to our team, I can step down from my position as Team Leader."

"That won't work."

"Tsk."

Team Leader Bae Hye-rim clicked her tongue. It seemed like she secretly wanted to step down from her position.

I've never seen such a desperate look in my entire life, but it was rare. She asked me to please do something and left.

When Director Kwak In-hyuk also got up, CEO Son Dong-young asked me.

"Why are you insisting on making things bigger when there's an easy way out? In my opinion, our PD... seemed to be trying to let it go quietly until recently."

Director Kwak In-hyuk stopped walking as he was leaving the conference room.

I tilted my head at that.

'That's right. Why was I so angry?'

What's certain is that after learning about Lee Aram's past, I felt bad, and when I talked to him directly, I felt a little... pity.

Of course, if Lee Aram found out about this, I don't think he would be very happy, but that's what happened.

'Was I that affectionate?'

I wonder if it was because we released an album and worked together that we became attached to each other. Strangely, I wanted to wrap things up for sure.

Even if the plan goes wrong and holds me back.

"Why....... Mr. Lee Aram is a victim. There is no reason for a victim to hide and cower, right? That is why it is like that."

"Is that it?"

"Yes."

CEO Son Dong-young's eyes narrowed. Director Kwak In-hyuk slammed the door shut and left as if there was nothing more to hear. It was clear that the way we handled this matter was very different from Director Kwak In-hyuk's personality, so I could understand his feelings.

'Now that the meeting is over, we should just watch how things actually unfold.'

I also got up from my seat. Ji Young-heon, who had been waiting for me in front of the door, raised his head with a relieved expression. As I was about to leave, one of the reasons suddenly came to mind.

"Oh, and Aram hyung said that. He said he wanted to make sure that safety was guaranteed."

"Then....."

"If you're going to give a gift, it's better to give it something fancy. I'm sorry for making things difficult for you, sir."

CEO Son Dong-young seemed speechless for a moment. It was only when I was about to close the door that I heard a voice behind me.

"Haha... Next time, please choose a gift that is appropriate."

"I will try."

Thump. The conference room door closes. I look at Ji Young-heon with a sigh.

"Manager, I'm not going to the dorm today and will sleep in the sleeping room."

"Yes?!"

"Please explain this well to the members, Manager."

Ji Young-heon looked at me with a dumbfounded voice. I smiled at him and headed to the sleeping room.

Today was a day when I didn't feel like going into my room.

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